|
ROMAN EMPIRE, Antoninus Pius, AE Sestertius, RIC 642a
|
orichalcum sestertius (33mm, 22,9g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck AD 140-144.
Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing right.
Rev.: TIBERIS / S C (in ex.) River god the Tiber, draped about waist, reclining to left, leaning with elbow on urn which pours out water, resting right hand on ship's prow and holding reed in the left.
RIC 642a (rare), Cohen 819 (fr.20), BMC 1313-15, Foss (Roman Historical Coins) 129:60
ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. Auction 401; Ex NAC AG, Auction 54; ex Busso-Peus Nachf sale 351 (1997).
Struck in preparation of the 900th anniversary of Rome celebrated in AD 147.
The river god Tiber plays an important role in ancient Roman legends such as Rhea Silvia, the mother of Romulus and Remus, who was thrown into the river to be drowned. She fell into the arms of the River god who married her; Romulus and Remus were saved by the river god Tiber who safely left the twins in a pool where they were rescued by a wolf.
|
|