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Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 24.72 g, 6h). Provincial series. Rome mint. Struck circa AD 139. Laureate head right / PAR THIA S C, COS II in exergue, Parthia, in short tunic, standing left, holding basket containing pearls and diadem in right hand and resting left hand on bow in bowcase . RIC III 586; BMCRE 1191. Dark green patina with light earthen fields. Near VF. Very rare.
From the William H. Whetstone Collection, purchased from Frank Kovacs.
Parthia was not a Roman province by the time Antoninus became emperor (it was only briefly so under Trajan), but a powerful independent kingdom. This coin depicts Parthia showing deference to Antoninus by presenting him the trappings of kingship. The provincial coins of Antoninus Pius, which begin early in his reign, represent something of a continuation from the similar series of his predecessor, Hadrian. Unlike Hadrian, Antoninus never left Italy over the 24 years of his reign and never saw the vast majority of the provinces depicted, although he did serve as governor of Asia during his senatorial career. The provincial sestertii of Antoninus are, as a rule, quite rare and difficult to acquire in pleasing grades. William H. Whetstone collected this series; several of his coins appear in this offering and additional coins will be offered in Triton XXV, on January 2022.
Closing Date and Time: 22 September 2021 at 14:14:00 ET.
All winning bids are subject to an 18% buyer’s fee.
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