Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 486 24 Feb 2021
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Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ As (28mm, 11.90 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 143-144. Laureate head right / Sow right under holm oak, suckling piglets; to right, one more. RIC III 733. Two-tone brown patina, some roughness. VF.
From The Aeneid, Book VIII: "And now, lest you think this sleep's idle fancy, you'll find a huge sow lying on the shore, under the oak trees, that has farrowed a litter of thirty young, a white sow, lying on the ground, with white piglets round her teats, That place shall be your city, there's true rest from your labours. By this in a space of thirty years Ascanius will found the city of Alba, bright name." Hence, this type signifies part of the foundation myth for Rome.
From The Aeneid, Book VIII: "And now, lest you think this sleep's idle fancy, you'll find a huge sow lying on the shore, under the oak trees, that has farrowed a litter of thirty young, a white sow, lying on the ground, with white piglets round her teats, That place shall be your city, there's true rest from your labours. By this in a space of thirty years Ascanius will found the city of Alba, bright name." Hence, this type signifies part of the foundation myth for Rome.