Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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Coin, bronze as, Antoninus Pius; 139 CE; 180.96.24

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleCoin, bronze as, Antoninus Pius

About this objectThis bronze As features the bust of the bearded emperor Antoninus Pius on the obverse, and an image of Fortuna standing on the reverse, with a rudder in her right hand, and a cornucopia in her left.

Fortuna, the Roman goddess of luck and chance, was regarded as a goddess of increase and prosperity. This is good symbolism for the reign of Antoninus Pius, who left a surplus for his adopted sons and successors Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.

Antoninus, emperor from 138 - 161 AD, was born into a senatorial family and was adopted by Hadrian. He acquired the cognomen (nickname) Pius, either from compelling the Senate to deify his adopted father, or because he saved senators who had been sentenced to death by Hadrian. Antoninus ruled during a peaceful period, with no major revolts or military activities. He even managed to govern without ever leaving Italy.

Antoninus Pius was the second emperor to have a beard, after Hadrian. This was uncommon for Romans as they believed that having a beard was un-Roman. Beards were originally regarded as a sign of immaturity, and shaved in the mid twenties. The bearded emperors became a sign of Roman cosmopolitanism, a sign of the changing times.

Date Made139 CE

PeriodImperial (Roman)

Place MadeItaly

Place NotesRome mint

Medium and MaterialsMetal: Bronze

Style and IconographyRoman

Inscription and MarksObverse:
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP
(Antoninus Augustus Pius Pater Patriae)
Antoninus, Dutiful Emperor, Father of the Country

Reverse:
[FO]RTVNA AVGVSTI [COS II]
(Fortuna Augusti Consul II)
Fortunate Augustus, Consul for the second time (Fortuna may also refer to the goddess Fortuna Augusta, 'Fortune')

S C
Senatus Consultum
By decree of the Senate

TechniqueStriking (metalworking)

MeasurementsWeight 10.22g
Diameter ca. 26mm

Subject and Association KeywordsEmperors

Subject and Association KeywordsKings and rulers in art

Subject and Association KeywordsGoddesses in art

Subject and Association KeywordsNumismatics

Subject and Association KeywordsInscriptions, Latin

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated by M.K. Steven, 1996.

Object TypeExchange Media

Object number180.96.24