Antoninus Pius Sestertius, Venus reverse
RIC III Antoninus Pius 1387a · 145 AD-161 AD · Rome
Obverse
Reverse
Universitätsbibliothek, TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Obverse
FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL
Bust of Faustina the Younger, draped, right, hair is elaborately dressed in horizontal lines with ringlets down front: it is coiled in a chignon on back of head.
Reverse
VENVS S C
Venus, standing left, holding apple and sceptre
About This Type
This RIC III Antoninus Pius 1387a is a sestertius of Antoninus Pius (145 AD-161 AD), struck at the Rome mint. The reverse depicts Venus, standing left, holding apple and sceptre. Struck in bronze at a standard weight of 21.94g, 23mm diameter.
About the Sestertius
The sestertius was the large brass prestige coin of the Roman imperial series, typically 25–28 grams and 30–35mm in diameter. Its size gave engravers room for the finest portrait art and most detailed reverse compositions in Roman coinage. Sestertii bear the SC mark indicating senatorial authority over base metal coinage.
About the Rome Mint
The Rome mint was the principal mint of the Roman state from the Republic through the fall of the Western Empire. It produced the vast majority of gold and silver coinage and was the only mint for much of the first and second centuries AD.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is RIC III Antoninus Pius 1387a?
- RIC III Antoninus Pius 1387a is a Bronze Sestertius of Antoninus Pius (145 AD-161 AD) struck at the Rome mint cataloged under RIC vol. III no. III Antoninus Pius 1387a.
- How do you identify RIC III Antoninus Pius 1387a?
- The obverse depicts Bust of Faustina the Younger, draped, right, hair is elaborately dressed in horizontal lines with ringlets down front: it is coiled in a chignon on back of head. with the inscription FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL. The reverse depicts Venus, standing left, holding apple and sceptre with the inscription VENVS S C. Portrait type: draped.
- What are the physical specifications of RIC III Antoninus Pius 1387a?
- RIC III Antoninus Pius 1387a was struck in Bronze, standard weight 21.94g, diameter 23mm, die axis 6 h, struck.
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