Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 26.29 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 143-144. VF.

Electronic Auction 531 – Session 2
Lot: 1130. Estimated: $ 500

Roman Imperial, Bronze

Sold For $ 1 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (33mm, 26.29 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck AD 143-144. Laureate head right / IMPERATOR II, [B]RITANNIA in exergue, Britannia seated left on heap of rocks, holding signum and spear, resting left elbow on shield set on cuirass. RIC III 745; Banti 48; SCBC 643A. Slightly rough brown surfaces. VF.

Ex Roma E-Sale 85 (17 June 2021), lot 1828.

One of Pius' first actions as emperor was to send Q. Lollius Urbicus, a previous governor of Germania Inferior, to Britain to quell a number of revolts. While most of the sources note the Brigantes (located in Northumbria) as the primary focus of these events, circa AD 143-144, most of his campaigning was against the lowland tribes of Scotland, the Votadini, Selgovae, Damnonii, and Novantae. His campaigns were successfully completed by 144, after which Urbicus and the Legio II Augusta built the Antonine Wall. This issue of sestertii was struck in commemoration of Urbicus' victories, for which Pius was likely acclaimed imperator for the second time.

Closing Date and Time: 26 January 2023 at 10:43:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 20% buyer’s fee.