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Tranquillitas
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Antoninus Pius 138-161
AR - Denar, 3.27g, 18.0mm
Rome AD 148-149
obv. IMP CAES T AEL HADR ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP
head laureate r.
rev. TR POT XIIII COS IIII
Tranquillitas standing r., holding rudder and corn-ears
in exergue: TRANQ
RIC III, 202b; C.825 (without PIVS, a slip); BMC 736
scarce; EF
TRANQUILLITAS, tranquillity, an abstraction personified for the first time on coins of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. She is shown with the attributes which seem to hint at an association with the grain supply, a rudder and ears of grain, sometimes a modius or a prow.
TRANQUILLITAS reappears on an antoninian of Philip I with sceptre and capricorne. Here she must considered an imperial virtue like Pietas or Nobilitas rather than a blessing. The legend occurs once more on the coinage from Licinius II to Constantine II in the form of BEATA TRANQVILLITAS accompanied by the type of a globe on an altar. Here the message is similar to Hadrian's, the peaceful security of the Roman Empire.
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