Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3056 3 Aug 2017
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Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). AV aureus (19mm, 7.06 gm, 6h). NGC AU★ 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 140-143. ANTONINVS AVG PI-VS P P TR P COS III, bare head of Antoninus right / LI-BE-RA-LITAS, Antoninus seated left on platform, extending right hand and holding scroll; to left, Liberalitas standing left, holding coin scoop and cornucopia; below, citizen with outstretched hands; AVG III in exergue. RIC 75a. Cohen 484. Calicó 1563 (R1). Rare. Crisply struck from dies of pleasing style, with considerable "mint bloom" in fields.
Though famously frugal, Antoninus Pius was not above maintaining his popularity by regular cash disbursements to the Roman populace (congiaria), personified by the goddess Liberalitas, who is shown here helping the emperor to hand out coins to deserving citizens. A congiarium is recorded at the outset of his reign and at least two more occurred in the period AD 140-143, in which this aureus was struck. Tiberius is recorded to have given the first Imperial cash distribution, of 300 sesterces; Nero later upped the amount to 400, an amount which could have been given in the form of four gold aurei or 100 silver denarii.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD
Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161). AV aureus (19mm, 7.06 gm, 6h). NGC AU★ 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 140-143. ANTONINVS AVG PI-VS P P TR P COS III, bare head of Antoninus right / LI-BE-RA-LITAS, Antoninus seated left on platform, extending right hand and holding scroll; to left, Liberalitas standing left, holding coin scoop and cornucopia; below, citizen with outstretched hands; AVG III in exergue. RIC 75a. Cohen 484. Calicó 1563 (R1). Rare. Crisply struck from dies of pleasing style, with considerable "mint bloom" in fields.
Though famously frugal, Antoninus Pius was not above maintaining his popularity by regular cash disbursements to the Roman populace (congiaria), personified by the goddess Liberalitas, who is shown here helping the emperor to hand out coins to deserving citizens. A congiarium is recorded at the outset of his reign and at least two more occurred in the period AD 140-143, in which this aureus was struck. Tiberius is recorded to have given the first Imperial cash distribution, of 300 sesterces; Nero later upped the amount to 400, an amount which could have been given in the form of four gold aurei or 100 silver denarii.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD