Marcus Aurelius?? -- Nope -- Antoninus Pius

[Dino]

Just got this one in.  Forgot to measure it at home last night, but I'm guessing it's about 25mm or so.

Am I on the right track with the protrait?

Couldn't find it on CA or WW.

Assistance appreciated.

[Arminius]

It´s the religious Antony:

Antoninus Pius Æ Sestertius. 156-157 AD. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II, laureate head right / TR POT XIX COS IIII S-C, Fides standing left holding two standards.
RIC 943a, Cohen 988, BMC 1995

regards

[curtislclay]

If really only 25 mm, probably an As rather than a sestertius.

The dupondius of this type is recorded, but not the As.  However, Jack Benedict acquired a specimen of the As from AAH in 2002, and has donated it to the American Num. Soc.

[Dino]

Thank you both.  The 25mm is my guesstimation from memory.  I'll measure tonight to confirm.  It did look a little small to be a sesterius.

[Dino]

Well, it looks like Antoninus Pius here is just under 25mm.

So this makes him an As?

[Dino]

one more

[curtislclay]

Yes, apparently an As.

The size and laurel wreath dictate that denomination, and that's confirmed by the color of the metal showing through in spots, apparently red copper not yellow brass.

[Dino]

Thanks Curtis.  You had stated early that the As is an unrecorded type, but that you knew of at least of one other example.  Does that mean that this is fairly rare?

[curtislclay]

Doubtless rare, but a lot of middle bronzes of Pius' nineteenth trib. year have been emerging from Bulgaria in recent years, so there are probably more examples around than one thinks.

Plus, it's not the sort of rarity that is commercially valuable, since it's a common-looking type and there are very few specialist collectors of Roman coins who are keen to acquire every known variety!

[Dino]

Great.  Thanks for the help.