Ancient Rome - AD 138-161 Antoninus Pius AV Aureus NGC Choice XF

Antoninus Pius, 138-161. AV Aureus (7.19 g), Rome, 155-156. NGC Choice XF. Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5. Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II with Laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing to right. Reverse:  TR POT XIX COS IIII with Victory advancing left, holding wreath in her right hand and palm over her left shoulder. Sources: BMC 862. Calicó 1670. Cohen 993. RIC 255a.

Bust of Antoninus Pius, circa 150 AD. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

During his reign, Antoninus built temples, theaters, and mausoleums, advanced the arts and sciences, and presented honors and money to teachers of rhetoric and philosophy. Research has uncovered that the ruling team surrounding Antoninus was a cluster of closely knit senatorial families, a majority of whom were members of the priestly congregation for the cult of Hadrian, the sodales Hadrianales.

No records exist of his taking part in any military activities. One modern scholar wrote, “It is almost certain not only that at no time in his life did he ever see, let alone command, a Roman army, but that, throughout the twenty-three years of his reign, he never went within five hundred miles of a legion."