AE asse¹, zecca di Roma, 154-155 d. C.²
Riferimenti bibl.: RIC III 934 (pag. 142), BMC IV 1971 (pag. 330), Cohen II 117 (pag. 282)
Indice di rarità "S".

Descrizione sommaria:
D. ANTONINVS AVG - PIVS P P TR P XVIII³. Antonino Pio, testa laureata a destra. In basso, sotto il collo, WRL⁴.
R. BRITAN-NIA COS IIII⁵. La Britannia seduta a sinistra su una roccia, testa appoggiata alla mano destra, mano sinistra sulla roccia; di fronte grande scudo circolare con punta centrale, dietro vessillo inclinato puntato in avanti a sinistra. S C in esergo⁶. Ad ore 2 del rovescio WRL⁴.

La ricerca nel web di monete di tipologia simile a quella di figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:

1. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/antoninus_pius/RIC_0934.5.jpg Antoninus Pius. 138-161 AD. Æ As (9.71 gm). Struck 154/5 Click for Larger Image AD. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII, laureate and draped bust right / BRITANN-I[A CO]S IIII, S C in [Image] exergue, Britannia seated left on rock, resting head upon hand; shield and vexillum(?) in background before her. RIC III 934; BMCRE 1971; Cohen 117. Good VF, dark green patina, minor porosity. Scarce and popular type. Estimate $500. History: There is some debate as to whether or not the BRITANNIA asses of Antoninus Pius were struck in the Roman province of Britannia itself. The latest scholarship (cp. D.R. Walker, The Temple of Sulis Minerva at Bath: Volume 2, the Finds from the Sacred Spring, pp. 295-296) repeatedly alludes to the coins as "British associated," and is careful to draw the line between declaring either a British or a Roman manufacture. In regards to the BRITANNIA dupondii, Walker does state that they were produced in Rome for shipment to Britain, and it is unlikely that the asses would have been manufactured at a mint other than the same as that striking the dupondii. Nevertheless, the peculiar fabric of this issue, so different than that which is normally encountered and is of unquestionable provenance, as well as the fact that not a single specimen has been excavated outside of Britain would seem to indicate that provincial manufacture is not unlikely. Currently 299 USD Tue, 16 May, 2000.
2. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s4296.html#RIC_0934 138-161 AD, As, Rome, 155 AD, 10.35g. BM-1971, C-117, RIC-934, Sear-4296. Obv: TR P XVIII, Head laureate r. Rx: BRITANNIA COS IIII S C Britannia seated l. on rocks. This type apparently struck in Britain, for it is found in abundance there but almost never turns up in Gaul or elsewhere in the former Roman empire. This coin purchased from Rinaldi, Verona, August 1968, but presumably not a local find. V. Winning bid: US $115.00 Apr-18-06.
3. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?search=ANTONINVS+BRITANNIA&view_mode=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1#3 ID: 46999  Last change: 25.03.2009 Company  Baldwin's Auctions Ltd Auction  Auction 57 (23.09.2008) Lot  103 Price realized  600 GBP (~1113 USD) Source  No longer available! ANCIENT COINS, ROMAN IMPERIAL COINS, Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161) Antoninus Pius, As, 10.61g, AD 154-155, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII, laureate bust right, rev BRITANNIA COS IIII S C, Britannia seated left on rock, with eagle tipped sceptre and round shield (RIC 934; C117; RCV 4296). Even patina, exceptionally well struck for issue, about extremely fine Estimate: £250-300.
4. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?search=ANTONINVS+BRITANNIA&view_mode=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1#7  ID: 91560  Last change: 27.03.2009 Company  Spink Auction  Auction 7030 (28.11.2007) Lot  86 Price realized  340 GBP (~704 USD) Source  No longer available! Antoninus Pius (AD 138-161), AE As, Rome, 154/5, laureate head right, antoninvs avg pivs p p tr p xviii, rev. britannia avg cos iiii sc , Britannia seated left on rocks, her head propped on right hand, shield and vexillum on left (RIC 934; C. 117), green-brown patina, good very fine Estimate £ 380-450.
5. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?search=ANTONINVS+BRITANNIA&view_mode=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1#9  ID: 186875  Last change: 02.04.2009 Company  Spink Auction  Sale 4013 (15.07.2004) Lot  51 Price realized  190 GBP (~352 USD) Source  No longer available! Antoninus Pius (A.D. 138-161), AE As, A.D. 154-5, laureate head right, antoninvs avg [pivs p p tr p] xvii[i], rev. [britannia] cos iiii, Britannia seated left on rock, shield and vexillum in background, sc in exergue (RIC 934; C 117; RCV 4296); together with another similar, the first with dark brown patina, very fine, the second short of flan, good fine (2) Estimate £ 150-200 The first coin illustrated.
6. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?search=ANTONINVS+BRITANNIA&view_mode=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1#10  ID: 347676  Last change: 20.09.2009 Company  Compagnie Générale de Bourse Auction  MONNAIES 21 (18.06.2004) Lot  2572 Price realized  Unsold or unknown price Source  Link ANTONIN LE PIEUX(25/02/138-7/03/161)Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius AntoninusAuguste(10/07/138-7/03/161) As, (MB, ئ 24) N° v21_2572 Date : 154-155 Nom de l'atelier : Rome Métal : cuivre Diamètre : 23,5mm Axe des coins : 6h. Poids : 9,65g. Degré de rareté : R2 Etat de conservation : TTB Prix de départ : 200 €  Estimation : 400 € lot invendu Commentaires sur l'état de conservation : Exemplaire sur un flan un peu court. Jolie patine vert olive foncé. Revers tout à fait exceptionnel. N° dans les ouvrages de référence : C.117 (10f.) - RIC.934  - BMC/RE.1971  - RCV.4296 note (900$) - MRK.35 /138 var. (750€) Titulature avers : ANTONINVS AVG - PIVS P P TR [P XVIII]. Description avers : Tête laurée d'Antonin le Pieux à droite (O*). Traduction avers : 'Antoninus Augustus Pius Pater Patriae Tribunicia Potestate octavum decimum', (Antonin auguste pieux père de la patrie revêtu de la dix-huitième puissance tribunitienne). Titulature revers : BRITANNIA - . - COS IIII/ SC. Description revers : Britannia (la Bretagne) assise à gauche sur des rochers, la main gauche appuyée sur un rocher, ramenant sa main droite devant sa bouche ; devant à gauche, un bouclier et un sceptre surmonté d’un aigle (scipio). Traduction revers : 'Britannia Consul quartum/ Senatus Consulto”, (La Bretagne/ consul pour la quatrième fois/ avec l’accord du Sénat). Commentaire à propos de cet exemplaire : Poids léger. Commentaires : Ce revers, qui est frappé vingt ans après les premières victoires en Bretagne où éclatent en 155 de graves émeutes, rappelle la sujétion de la province. Historique : Antonin est né le 19 septembre 86 à Lanuvium. Sa famille est originaire de Gaule (Nîmes). C'est un riche sénateur qui a épousé Faustine l'ancienne entre 110 et 115 et est ainsi entré par alliance dans la famille d'Hadrien. Après la mort d'Aelius le 1er janvier 138, Hadrien choisit Antonin pour lui succéder le 25 février 138 en lui adjoignant deux fils adoptifs, Marc Aurèle et Lucius Vérus. Hadrien meurt le 10 juillet et Antonin lui succède. Il doit d'abord batailler pour faire diviniser Hadrien, ennemi du Sénat. En 139, Marc Aurèle devient césar et Faustine augusta. Son règne est calme et heureux et symbolise la 'Pax Romana' du deuxième siècle. En 148, il commémore avec faste le 900e anniversaire de Rome.
7. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/antoninus_pius/RIC_0934.2.jpg Antoninus Pius. 138-161 AD. Æ As (8.81 gm). Struck 154/5 AD. Laureate head right / BRITANNIA COS IIII, S C in exergue, Britannia seated left on rock, resting head upon hand; shield and vexillum(?) in background before her. RIC III 934; BMCRE 1971; Cohen 117. Good VF, porous. Scarce. 715043 There is some debate as to whether or not the BRITANNIA asses of Antoninus Pius were struck in the Roman province of Britannia itself. The latest scholarship (cp. D.R. Walker, The Temple of Sulis Minerva at Bath: Volume 2, the Finds from the Sacred Spring, pp. 295-296) repeatedly alludes to the coins as "British associated," and is careful to draw the line between declaring either a British or a Roman manufacture. In regards to the BRITANNIA dupondii, Walker does state that they were produced in Rome for shipment to Britain, and it is unlikely that the asses would have been manufactured at a mint other than the same as that striking the dupondii. Nevertheless, the peculiar fabric of this issue, so different than that which is normally encountered and is of unquestionable provenance, as well as the fact that not a single specimen has been excavated outside of Britain would seem to indicate that provincial manufacture is not unlikely. Currently $68.00 08/11/99.
8. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/antoninus_pius/RIC_0934.3.jpg This is a rare as of the emperor Antoninus Pius. The obverse is Antoninus' laureate head right with legends. The reverse is Britannia seated left on rock with legends reading: BRITANNIA COS IIII S. C. RIC 934. A great reverse type! Currently $61.00 10/11/99.
9. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/antoninus_pius/RIC_0934.4.jpg This piece was minted circa 155 AD, during the reign of Antoninus Pius, who ruled from 138-161 AD. The reign of Antoninus is a virtual blank in the history books, owing to the stability and prosperity that Rome enjoyed during these years. He was the personification of Rome's golden age, which reached its zenith under his rule. The obverse of this type depicts the laureate head of Antoninus facing right, with legends ANTONINVS.AVG.PIVS.P.P.TR.P.XVIII. The reverse type features Brittania seated left on rock, head propped on right hand, left hand on rock, with a cap on pole at left. The legends for the type read BRITTANIA.COS.IIII.SC. Coin shows porous surfaces, and is struck on the typical smallish flan, but otherwise grades G/Near F, with the outline of the head and a few letters visible on the obverse, and a stronger reverse, with clearer devices and partial legends visible. A decent and very affordable example of this scarce and very popular type, minted to mark Roman victories in Britain under Antoninus Pius. Coin is a variation of RIC-934. Currently $20.00 Apr-19-00
10. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/antoninus_pius/RIC_0934.7.jpg ANTONINUS PIUS . 138-161 AD. Bronze As, 25mm (11.05 gm). . R: Britannia seated, l., on rock. cf. RIC. 934. VF. ex-Dr. Kenneth Jacobs Coll., and this comes with his handwritten cabinet tag. On the tag, he writes that this coin was "probably struck in Britain from dies made in Rome, A.D. 154-155." There is a further note alluding to Seaby's and to a 1966 article in the Numismatic Chronicle. . Current bid: US $15.50 (Reserve not met) Ended: Feb-09-06.

Giulio De Florio
 
 

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Note:
(1) L'asse originale era di bronzo (lega all'86% di rame e sopra il 12% di zinco). Il peso medio dell'asse di Antonino Pio è dato da BMC in 10,93g (media su 274 esemplari). Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche degli assi della tipologia di figura presenti nei link di cui sopra e nel manuale BMC.