A. Pius sestertius, unlisted bust type with aegis

[Charles S]

I just received this sestertius of Antoninus Pius with bust with aegis.  An aegis is very rare on Antoninus Pius portrait, this one is possibly unrecorded for this reverse type.  I could not find it in any of the references I have.

Coin details: Æ Sestertius (22,35g, 33mm, 6h). Rome, AD 158-159. Obv.: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXII, laur. hd. r. with aegis.  Rev.: VOTA SVSCEP DECENN III around, COS IIII in ex. S C, veiled emperor standing left, sacrificing out of patera over tripod. RIC  1009a; BMC 2070; Strack 1172 & App. IV 102a. corresponds possibly w. Coh. 1119 (but TR P XXIII instead of XXII); Banti 527 (1 spec., no aegis).

It is a great pity that one of the previous owners coarsely cleaned the reverse, leaving ugly marks.  But the obverse seems to be unharmed.

Your comments are welcome.

[Diederik]

Charles,
What an excellent coin this is! The Medusa head is as clear as a picture. The snakes surrounding it, were apparently too much of a challenge for the die cutter.
I could not find a second example of this type either.
Congrats!


Frans

[FlaviusDomitianus]

Beautiful portrait and aegis.

Alberto

[curtislclay]

A neat and rare portrait type, no other example is known to me, either.

However we unfortunately cannot know whether or not Strack had seen such a coin with aegis, because he considered the "with aegis" and "with drapery" bust types to have no chronological significance, so omitted to take account of them in his bust type codification!

Frans, four snakes are there, attached to the line of aegis in front of the Medusa head.

[Diederik]

If this is the way of depicting the snakes round Medusa's head, I finally understand the aegis I have on a Pius denarius - though worked out far less than on Charles' gorgeous coin..

Frans

[Charles S]

Thank you for all your kind and interesting reactions. 

Here is an example of a similar portrait with aegis made by possibly the same artist a year later.  It is not mine, details on http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=547728  . 

[okidoki]

Hello Charles,

Excellent Aegis, with so much details left.

For me an Aegis on a coin gives a coin something extra.

you must be a happy man.

all the best,

Eric

[antoninus1]

Charles,
now I know who overbid me on this coin 
You have a really nice collection of Antoninus Pius´ coins.
And I saw some more where I finished only second

[Charles S]

Charles,
now I know who overbid me on this coin 
You have a really nice collection of Antoninus Pius´ coins.
And I saw some more where I finished only second

Yes, thank you, the large bronzes of Antoninus Pius are really my favorite collecting items.   When I saw this coin appear in the Pecunem auction, I did not want to miss it.  The estimate was way underrated by the auction house.  I guessed I was not the only one who would recognize  this bust type to be very special.  I think there were 6 bidders total if I remember well.  Sorry if I overbid you.  And I forgive you for driving the price up  .

[quadrans]

Thank you for all your kind and interesting reactions. 

Here is an example of a similar portrait with aegis made by possibly the same artist a year later.  It is not mine, details on http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=547728  . 

Ahhh this is the beauty ..
and the Aegis... beauty..no words..
 Q.