Description
Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius, as Caesar of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty under Hadrian, Silver Denarius (3.54g, 17mm), Rome mint 138 AD. Obverse: Bare head of Antoninus Pius facing to the right, legend surrounds, “IMP T AEL CAES ANTONINVS”. Reverse: Diana stands facing to the right, draped and holding bow aloft in left hand and arrow in right, legend surrounds, “TRIB POT COS”. RIC-447a [Hadrian]; RSC-1058; Sear-4133. A nice early denarius of Antoninus Pius during his time as Caesar, far less often seen compared to the prolific coinage issued during his reign as Augustus after Hadrian, near Extremely Fine.
The Obverse Latin legend reads “Imperātor Titus Aelius Caesar Antoninus”, naming the Caesar’s full nomenclature following his adoption in 138 AD. The Reverse Latin legend reads “Tribūnīciā Potestās prīmum, cōnsulāritās prīmum”, with an English translation of “invested with Tribunician Power for the first time, honoured with the office of Consul for his first term”.