Description
Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius, Roman Emperor of the Nerva-Antonine Dynasty 138-161 AD, Æ Sestertius (24.62g, 31mm), Rome mint 140-144 AD. Obverse: Laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing to the right, legend surrounds, “ΛNTONINVS ΛVG PIVS PP TR P COS III”. Reverse: Annona stands facing to the right, draped in stola and holding corn ears over modius in right hand and resting cornucopia in left arm, prow of galley to lower right, “SC” to field each side, legend surrounds, “ΛNNONΛ ΛVG”. RIC-597a; Sear-4147. Awash with a nice bronze-y patina with a light dustiness to the obverse, far nicer visually when held in hand, good Very Fine.
The obverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “Antoninus Augustus, Pater Patriae, Tribūnīciā Potestās, cōnsulāritās tertium”, with an English translation of “Antoninus Augustus, Father of the Nation, invested with Tribunician Power, honoured with the office of Consul for a third term”. The reverse Latin legend reads unabridged as “annōna Augustī”, with an English meaning of “annual grain supply of the Augustus (brought by)”.