NumisBids
  
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XXV  11-12 Jan 2022
View prices realized

Lot 912

Estimate: 10 000 USD
Price realized: 17 000 USD
Find similar lots
Share this lot: Share by Email
Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. AV Aureus (20mm, 7.15 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 147. ANTONINVS AVG PI VS P P TR P COS IIII, laureate head right / LIB IIII in exergue, Antoninus Pius, togate, seated left on curule chair on platform, extending right hand and holding volumen in left; to left, Liberalitas standing left, holding abacus in right hand and cornucopia in left; on ground to left, citizen, togate, standing right, holding out fold of toga with both hands to receive distribution. RIC III 141c; Strack 149δ; Calicó 1571; BMCRE 546 note; Biaggi 739 var. (bust type); Jameson 115 var. (break in obv. legend); Mazzini 496 var. (bust type). Toned with underlying luster. EF.

Ex Arthur Bally-Herzog Collection (Münzen und Medaillen AG 93, 16 December 2003), lot 170, purchased from Spink & Son, 3 March 1905 (for 200 francs); A. Bain Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 7 November 1901), lot 33.

The scene in which the emperor makes liberal distributions to citizens is known as a congiarium. This distribution can be thought of as an ancient version of the modern "stimulus check," as recently offered by the U.S. government in the form of pandemic relief.
Question about this auction? Contact Classical Numismatic Group, LLC