Coin — Aureus of Antonius Pius, Rome, 140-144 AD
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
140-144 AD
Coin in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number A.683-1910), made in Rome, dated 140-144 AD. The museum's brief description reads: Coin (aureus), gold, of Antonius Pius / Mars, Roman, ca.
140-144 AD. Museum description: Small gold coin. On the obverse: a portrait of the emperor Antoninus Pius. On the reverse Mars god of war, naked with a helmet, shield and spear appearing before the sleeping figure of Rhea Sylvia. The museum records it as Gold, measuring Diameter 1.9 cm; Weight 7.35 g. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The coin bears the head of Emperor Antoninus Pius, whose full title was: Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius. He was born Sept. 19, 86AD at Lanuvium, Latium and died on March 7 161AD at Lorium, Etruria. He was Roman emperor from 138–161AD. Of Gallic origins, he served as consul (120) before being assigned judicial administrative duties in Italy. He later governed the province of Asia (c. 134). He became an adviser to Hadrian and in 138 was made Hadrian's heir. On accession he had the deceased emperor declared a god; for such dutiful acts he was named Pius (“Pious”). He quelled rebellions in Britain and other provinces and built the Antonine Wall. Mild-mannered and capable, he was the fourth of the “five good emperors” who guided the empire through an 84-year period (96–180) of internal peace and prosperity. The reverse of the coin shows Mars appearing to Rhea Sylvia. According to Virgil's Aeneid , Jupiter predicted that Mars would father twins by Rhea Sylvia, one of the virgins guarding the eternal flame before the Pallas Athena statue at the temple of Vesta. According to legend Rhea was raped by Mars and had two children, the twins Romulus and Remus who later founded Rome.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter 1.9 cm; Weight 7.35 g
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Gold
- Place recorded
- Rome
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- 'ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP'; 'TRIB POT COS III'
Identification
- Museum object name
- Coin
- Museum object number
- A.683-1910
- Museum system number
- O128633
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Research required
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and date against a specialist reference.