Description
Divus Antoninus Pius, Roman Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty, died 161 AD, Silver Denarius (3.15g, 18mm), Rome mint 161 AD, struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus. Obverse: Bare head of Antoninus Pius facing to the right, legend surrounds, “DIVVS ΛNTONINVS”. Reverse: Garlanded altar surmounted by eagle facing to the right, head turned back left, legend surrounds, “CONSECRΛTIO”. RIC-431 (Aurelius); RSC-155; Sear-5192. Slight metal stress to flan and the reverse soft in strike, easily overlooked when held in hand, featuring a boldly veristic portrait of aged style of the late emperor, typical of the consecration types, near Extremely Fine, reverse little less so.
The obverse Latin legend reads “Dīvus Antōnīnus”, addressing the late Antoninus Pius with his deified nomenclature. The reverse Latin legend reads “cōnsecrātiō”, in English simply as “Consecration”.
