Watch List notes:

THE ROMAN EMPIRE
Antoninus Pius augustus, 138 – 161

Sestertius 143-144, Æ 29.61 g. ANTONINVS AVG PI – VS P P TR P COS III Laureate head r. Rev. IMPERA – T– OR / BRI – TAN / S – C Victory advancing l. holding wreath and palm branch. C 114. BMC 1613. RIC 719.
Very rare and in unusually fine condition for the issue. Brown tone,
minor areas of weakness, otherwise about extremely fine


Beginning with Julius Caesar's expeditions of 55 and 54 B.C., the Romans had taken an interest in ruling Britain to levy taxes, acquire army recruits and slaves, and to gain access to a variety of raw materials and finished goods. The first true invasion occurred under the emperor Claudius, who annexed the island in A.D. 43. Aiding him was Vespasian, long before he became emperor. As a general, Vespasian led the second legion to capture more than 20 fortresses, including Maiden Castle in Dorset. Overall, Claudius' invasion was a limited affair, but far more substantial than the forays of Julius Caesar. From 58 to 60, Nero's governor of Britain, C. Suetonius Paulinus, extended Roman influence well into Wales, capturing the island of Anglesey in what Tacitus describes as a most brutal assault. Upon his success, though, he found himself in the midst of the terrifying response of Queen Boudicca in 60 or 61, which he was able to halt, and then punish with great severity. Under Flavian rule an outward push began, resulting not only in the conquest of Wales, but advancement deep into Scotland, notably by the general Agricola. Later still, perhaps in about A.D. 118, the ninth legion stationed at York seems to have suffered greatly at the hands of Britons. There is no consensus on what occurred, but the ninth is last recorded at York in 107/8. Since the orator Fronto discloses that many Roman soldiers perished in Britain during Hadrian's reign, and Hadrian took such a personal interest in Britain (including a visit in 122), we might presume the ninth was ambushed or endured a sustained attack. Q. Pompeius Falco, Hadrian's governor of Britain from 118 to 122 seems to have effectively waged war in response, and to have initiated the construction of Hadrian's Wall, a massive undertaking that began in about 122. Early in the reign of Antoninus Pius, hostilities arose yet again. Unlike Hadrian, who had pulled back the Roman frontier and fortified it, Pius instructed his newly appointed governor of Britannia, Q. Lollius Urbicus (138/9-c.144), to lead a re-conquest of Southern Scotland. Lollius seems to have led the Second Legion Augusta, auxiliary units and contingents from other legions against a variety of foes, which likely included factions of the northern Brigantes and the Scottish Votadini, Selgovae, Damnonii and Novantae. His success in the Scottish lowlands allowed for the construction of the Antonine Wall, a turf wall behind a deep ditch that linked nineteen forts between the Forth and the Clyde, and which defined the new frontier. The success of Lollius' campaigns is marked by coins struck in Rome at the end of 142 and the start of 143. Issues that seemingly allude to Roman victories in Britain (though without naming the province) depict Jupiter Stator, the emperor as Virtus, and Victory. This particular variety, which includes BRITAN in its inscription, is one of the rarer and more important types. A later coinage of Antoninus Pius also relates to Britain – copper asses dated to Pius' 18th tribunician renewal (A.D. 155) which show a subdued Britannia. Whether she is mourning or merely at rest cannot be determined, though our understanding would be greatly enhanced if the historical circumstances of the mid-150s were clear. It has been suggested that at this time another uprising occurred in Britain, with the Brigantes attacking fortifications along both walls, but current archaeological research does not appear to support the prospect. The manufacture of these asses is uncharacteristically crude for Rome mint issues of the era and they are rarely found outside of Britain, which has led to the suggestion that they were produced in Britain, even if from dies engraved elsewhere.