Coin — Aureus of Antonius Pius, Rome, 140-143 AD
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
140-143 AD
Coin in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number A.684-1910), made in Rome, dated 140-143 AD. The museum's brief description reads: Coin (aureus), gold, of Antonius Pius / Jupiter, Roman, ca.
140-143 AD. Museum description: Small gold coin. The obverse features a portrait of Antoninus Pius and an inscription; the reverse Jupiter Stator, standing naked, leaning on a shaft and holding a thunderbolt, with an inscription. A border of dots encircles the images on each side. The museum records it as Gold, measuring Diameter 1.9 cm; Weight 7.11 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. Stator was a surname of Jupiter, the supreme ruler of the gods and mortals and the chief of the twelve Olympians. All the powers and functions of divinity were embodied in him. Like his Greek counterpart, Zeus, he was worshiped as a sky god. With Juno and Minerva he was a member of the triad of deities traditionally believed to have been introduced into Rome by the Etruscans. Jupiter was associated with treaties, alliances, and oaths; he was the protecting deity of the republic and later of the reigning emperor. His oldest temple was on the Capitoline Hill in Rome. He was worshiped on the summits of hills throughout Italy, and all places struck by…
Physical characteristics
- Material
- gold
- Dimensions
- Diameter 1.9 cm; Weight 7.11 g
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Gold
- Place recorded
- Rome
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- 'ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P COS III'; 'IOVI STATORI'
Identification
- Museum object name
- Coin
- Museum object number
- A.684-1910
- Museum system number
- O128637
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 catalogue references against a specialist reference.