![ROMAN. Antoninus Pius, Aureus, 'VOTΛ SOL DECENN II' [ARI-451] - Image 2](https://colonialcoins.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ARI-421-1.jpg)
Description
Roman Empire, Titus Aelius Hadriānus Antōnīnus pius (Antoninus Pius), Roman Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty 138-161 AD, Gold Aureus (7.08g, 18mm), ‘Vīcennālia’ issue – ‘Vows Paid’ for his 20th Year Anniversary, Rome mint 158-159 AD. Obverse: Bare head of Antoninus Pius facing to the right, legend surrounds, “ΛNTONINVS ΛVG PIVS PP TR P XXII”. Reverse: Antoninus Pius stands left, togate and holding scroll left hand and patera over sacrificial altar in right, bull prostrates by the altar, “COS IIII” in exergue, legend surrounds, “VOTΛ SOL DECENN II”. RIC-292b; Calicó-1705. A noteworthy aureus of Antoninus Pius that represented historical and political significance as it celebrated his Vīcennālia – or the vows paid for his second decade – during the height of the ‘Pāx Rōmāna’, evenly worn and quite visually attractive, Very Fine, reverse near Very Fine.
The emperor’s titles span across the obverse legend and the reverse exergue, reading unabridged as “Antōnīnus Augustus pius, Pater Patriae, Tribūnīciā Potestāte vīcēsimum secundum, Cōnsule quārtum”, with an English translation of “Antoninus, the pious Augustus, Father of the Fatherland, invested with Tribunician Power for the twenty second time, Consul for a fourth time”. The reverse Latin legend announced his Vīcennālia, reading unabridged as “Vōta solūta Decennālia Secunda”, with an English translation of “The second set of ten-year vows have been fulfilled”.
