Acquisition number: 1980.08
Other images
Obv.: Head of Antoninus, laureate, r. ANTONINVS AVG(ustus) PIVS P(ater) P(atriae) TR(ibunicia) P(otestate).
Rev.: Antoninus seated l. on right-hand end of platform, extending r. hand. Behind, an officer; in front, Liberalitas standing l., holding abacus in r. hand and cornucopiae in r. hand. At left, below platform, citizen standing r., holding out fold of toga. CO(n)S(ul) IIII at top; in exergue, LIBERALITAS and, in second line which here has been worn off, AVG(usti) IIII.
Title: Sestertius of Antoninus Pius - 1980.08
Acquisition number: 1980.08
Culture or period: Roman Imperial
Date: AD 145
Material: Metal - Brass
Object type: Coins - Roman
Dimensions: 32mm (w)
Origin region or location: Italy
Origin city: Rome
Display case or on loan: 7
Keywords: Coin, sestertius, Roman, Imperial, Antoninus Pius, Liberalitas
Sear, D.R., Roman Coins and their Values 5 vols (London, Spink, 2000-2014) 4187; Mattingly, H.,Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, 6 vols (London, 1965) 1688 pl. 40.16; Mattingly, H., E.A. Sydenham, C.H. Sutherland, R.A. Carson, The Roman Imperial Coinage 13 vols (London, Spink, 1923-1994) III, 774.
1980.08
Sestertius of Antoninus Pius
24.72 g. AD 145
Obv.: Head of Antoninus, laureate, r. ANTONINVS AVG(ustus) PIVS P(ater) P(atriae) TR(ibunicia) P(otestate).
Rev.: Antoninus seated l. on right-hand end of platform, extending r. hand. Behind, an officer; in front, Liberalitas standing l., holding abacus in r. hand and cornucopiae in r. hand. At left, below platform, citizen standing r., holding out fold of toga. CO(n)S(ul) IIII at top; in exergue, LIBERALITAS and, in second line which here has been worn off, AVG(usti) IIII.
The legend in the exergue indicates ‘the emperor’s fourth largesse’. On many coins of this type, S(enatus) C(onsulto) is in the field, indicating the senate’s administration of the bronze coinage, but it is not on this coin.
The date can be narrowed to AD 145 on several criteria. Antoninus held the consulship only four times, the last time being in AD 145, so the coin cannot be earlier than 145. There seem to be no unnumbered instances of TR. P. after AD 147, so that narrows the range to 145-147. Scenes of distribution of largesse were common in the second century, on coins and other imperial monuments (e.g. the Arch of Trajan at Beneventum). There were six numbered Liberalitates on Hadrian’s coinage. For Antoninus, Liberalitas symbolised not only the emperor’s generosity and concern for his people but also prosperity and stability. He made nine distributions, each associated with some special celebration. In AD 145 he made his fourth distribution to celebrate the marriage of Marcus Aurelius to Antoninus’ daughter Faustina the Younger.
Sear, D.R., Roman Coins and their Values 5 vols (London, Spink, 2000-2014) 4187; Mattingly, H.,Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, 6 vols (London, 1965) 1688 pl. 40.16; Mattingly, H., E.A. Sydenham, C.H. Sutherland, R.A. Carson, The Roman Imperial Coinage 13 vols (London, Spink, 1923-1994) III, 774.