ACTA ACCLA 2015

COINS OF THE FIVE GOOD EMPERORS

The Five Good Emperors

Nerva

Antoninus Pius
Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius
RULED 138-161 CE

Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, commonly known as Antoninus Pius, lived from 19 September 86 to 7 March 161 CE. The Emperor Hadrian adopted Antoninus as his son and successor on 25 February 138. At about the same time, Antoninus adopted both Marcus Annius Verus (Marcus Aurelius) and Lucius (Lucius Verus), son of Aelius Verus.

Antoninus was married to Annia Galeria Faustina (Faustina the Elder) at the time of his adoption by Hadrian. Antoninus and Faustina the Elder had had two sons and two daughters, but only their daughter Annia Galeria Faustina Minor (Faustina the Younger) survived to adulthood. She married her maternal cousin, Marcus Annius Verus, the future Emperor Marcus Aurelius in 146.

Denarius of Antoninus Pius with reverse of Marcus Aurelius as Caesar

ANTONINUS PIUS
Bob Effler

Denarius (silver, 2.96 g). Struck about 141 CE in Rome. Obverse: laureated bust of Antoninus Pius right, ANTONINUS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III. Reverse: Young, beardless Marcus Aurelius as Caesar, AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII F COS. RIC 417a; BMC 155; Sear 4524.

Emperor Antoninus Pius on a roman sestertius with a genius of the senate reverse

ANTONINUS PIUS
Bob Effler

Sestertius (orichalcum, 35 mm, 26.13 g). Struck CE 142 in Rome. Tiber patina. Obverse: laureated bust of Antoninus Pius right, ANTONINUS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III. Reverse: genius of the Senate, head left, holding branch and scepter, GENIO SENATVS S C. RIC 605; BMC 1241.

Emperor Antoninus Pius portrait on a roman sestertius with Libertas on the reverse

ANTONINUS PIUS
Randy Butler

Sestertius (brass, 24.98 g). Struck 153-154 CE in Rome. Obverse: laureated bust of Antoninus Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVII. Reverse: Libertas standing right holding pileus in right hand, LIBERTAS COS IIII S C. RIC 916a; BMC 1944.