| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 558 | Auction date: 20 March 2024 |
| Lot number: 606 Price realized: 325 USD (Approx. 299 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 22.83 g, 12h). British Victory issue. Rome mint. Struck AD 143-144. Laureate head right / Victory flying right, holding trophy in both hands. RIC III 717a; Banti 178 var. (break in obv. legend). Attractive green patina, smoothed, details enhanced. VF. Well struck on a full flan. Purchased by the consignor from Pegasi Numismatics, FUN 2007. Unlike the restless Hadrian, Antoninus Pius never left Italy and was content to rule from Rome. Only minor flare-ups in northern Britain and north Africa disturbed the general peace. This coin was issued to mark the suppression of the British uprising circa AD 143 by his governor of Britannia, Q. Lollius Urbicus, which led to Antoninus being acclaimed Imperator (victorious general) for the second time IMPERATOR II). It also occasioned the building of a new wall in turf 80 miles north of Hadrian's Wall, the so-called Antonine Wall, between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth. This was the only instance of imperial expansion during the reign of Antoninus, and the new frontier was abandoned shortly after his reign ended. Estimate: 150 USD |  |
