| Author |
 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,344 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
1431 Posts |
I'm fairly new to the world of Ancient coins. (this is only my second ancient) Perhaps I should have sought advice here before biting the bullet on this one, but it was calling out to me. My offer of $170 was accepted. did I at least do alright here? http://www.ebay.com/itm/391005288626seller's photos:  |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
It is a very nice coin with a beautiful portrait.
Sear (2002 edition) doesn't list the Pax reverse for that year, but all Denarii from the same year (TR POT COS II) he has at $160+ for EF condition - so you certainly can't complain.
Enjoy the coin.
|
|
Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
This is a beautiful coin of one of my favorite emperors and a good guy too booth, though not to the Christians of the time. The coin is well struck with flow line from the strike viable throughout the coin. Grade wise I would say that as close to As Struck as you can get. Even with the edge chips this is a high grade one and would be an excellent addition to any collection. I think you did very well.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4971 Posts |
it has a gorgeous bust of AP!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
1431 Posts |
Thanks much, all! I'll certainly enjoy this one (He'll go right next to my Marcus Aurelius).
Antoninus is one of my favorite emperors as well, along with his successor and adoptive son Marcus. They both presided over what was certainly a golden age for the empire, and Marcus was a great philosopher in his own right.
One thing that always amazes me about early Roman Imperial coinage is the high quality of the portraiture. In later years, the trend would shift towards more simplistic/generalized portraits of the current ruler. The artistic quality of portraiture on coinage seen in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD would not again be matched, at least in my opinion, until the early modern period.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Italy
1790 Posts |
The reign of Antoninus Pius was the apex of Augustus's model (the principate), or as Gibbon put it the "happiest age of mankind".
|
|
Valued Member
United States
356 Posts |
Totally love the coin and the Emperor. My favorite Emperor of all time. He chilled in Rome his entire reign, only Emperor to never leave Rome. Equanimity was the code word for his Praetorian and he ended the butchery of his vicious predecessor Hadrian. Thus, the Senates decision to give him the cognomen Pius. Ironically, am I the only one who finds an eerily resemblance to the actor Charles Dance, Aka Tywin Lannister? As for the coin, kudos, great find and fair price. Enjoy!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Very beautiful piece !
Many of the 'common' types of AP's denarii can be had for under $50 in VF condition. Of course when you crank it up a notch to XF the prices do leap upward. But long term it is rare to regret buying the best condition and prices rarely move downward.
As for Hadrian being a vicious ruler ....... Well his reign did spiral downward towards the end when his health declined and he suffered depression after the death of Antinoos. But he is not generally remembered for being a miserable old 'coot'. His reign was also a part of the golden age. Despite an unfortunate ending he did have the mental clarity to adopt Antoninus.
I am sure that he could have easily found a Caligula wannabe lurking about his court.
|
| |
Replies: 8 / Views: 1,344 |
|
Posted 12/24/2014 6:42 pm
