Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3051 8-9 January 2017
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Ancients
Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). AV aureus (22mm, 7.24 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Rome, AD 143-144. ANTONINVS AVG PI-VS P P TR P COS III, laureate head of Pius right / IMPERA-TOR · II, Jupiter enthroned left, holding thunderbolt in right hand and vertical scepter in left. RIC 108. Cohen 420. Struck on a broad flan, with lustrous fields.
Unlike the restless Hadrian, Antoninus never left Italy and was content to rule from Rome. Stability and equanimity were his watchwords, and his policies kept the Empire on an even keel for 24 years. He put no one to death, friend or foe. Only minor flare-ups in northern Britain and north Africa disturbed the general peace. The frontiers were maintained and defended, with his decision to build a new wall in Britain 80 miles north of the Hadrian's Wall the only instance of imperial expansion. He carefully groomed Marcus Aurelius as his successor, but neglected to provide him any military training. In fact the mild, civilian character of his reign may have unwittingly allowed storm clouds to gather and strengthen both within and beyond the frontiers. Nevertheless, later generations viewed Antoninus as the perfect emperor, and the tranquility of his reign took on the sheen of a lost golden age.
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD
Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). AV aureus (22mm, 7.24 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Rome, AD 143-144. ANTONINVS AVG PI-VS P P TR P COS III, laureate head of Pius right / IMPERA-TOR · II, Jupiter enthroned left, holding thunderbolt in right hand and vertical scepter in left. RIC 108. Cohen 420. Struck on a broad flan, with lustrous fields.
Unlike the restless Hadrian, Antoninus never left Italy and was content to rule from Rome. Stability and equanimity were his watchwords, and his policies kept the Empire on an even keel for 24 years. He put no one to death, friend or foe. Only minor flare-ups in northern Britain and north Africa disturbed the general peace. The frontiers were maintained and defended, with his decision to build a new wall in Britain 80 miles north of the Hadrian's Wall the only instance of imperial expansion. He carefully groomed Marcus Aurelius as his successor, but neglected to provide him any military training. In fact the mild, civilian character of his reign may have unwittingly allowed storm clouds to gather and strengthen both within and beyond the frontiers. Nevertheless, later generations viewed Antoninus as the perfect emperor, and the tranquility of his reign took on the sheen of a lost golden age.
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD