ROMAN EMPIRE – Antoninus Pius (AD 138–161) – AR Denarius
Struck c. mid-2nd century AD
Obverse: HRIC 6. Laureate head of Antoninus Pius right, the portrait rendered with serene dignity, reflecting the emperor’s reputation for justice, stability, and the preservation of Rome’s prosperity during his long reign.
Reverse: No legend. Antoninus Pius stands right in full military dress, his left foot resting upon a globe — a potent emblem of Rome’s dominion over the known world. In his right hand he holds a spear, symbol of readiness to defend the empire, while his left grasps a parazonium, the ceremonial short sword of a commander. The absence of an inscription heightens the visual impact of the design, drawing all attention to the emperor’s commanding presence.
References: HRIC 6
Metal: Silver (AR)
Condition: Extremely Fine; well-centered strike, choice portrait, and crisp detail. Scarce anepigraphic reverse type.
Collector’s Note:
The reign of Antoninus Pius is often characterized as one of peace, yet this scarce anepigraphic type serves as a quiet reminder that Roman supremacy rested upon both diplomacy and the readiness to project force. The globe beneath his foot declares universal dominion, while the parazonium speaks to the authority of command rather than the brutality of war — an image perfectly suited to a ruler who governed without major conflict. Denarii with such stripped-down, medallion-like reverses are highly prized for their rarity and the clarity with which they convey imperial ideology.
ROMAN EMPIRE – Antoninus Pius (AD 138–161) – AR Denarius
Struck c. mid-2nd century AD
Obverse: HRIC 6. Laureate head of Antoninus Pius right, the portrait rendered with serene dignity, reflecting the emperor’s reputation for justice, stability, and the preservation of Rome’s prosperity during his long reign.
Reverse: No legend. Antoninus Pius stands right in full military dress, his left foot resting upon a globe — a potent emblem of Rome’s dominion over the known world. In his right hand he holds a spear, symbol of readiness to defend the empire, while his left grasps a parazonium, the ceremonial short sword of a commander. The absence of an inscription heightens the visual impact of the design, drawing all attention to the emperor’s commanding presence.
References: HRIC 6
Metal: Silver (AR)
Condition: Extremely Fine; well-centered strike, choice portrait, and crisp detail. Scarce anepigraphic reverse type.
Collector’s Note:
The reign of Antoninus Pius is often characterized as one of peace, yet this scarce anepigraphic type serves as a quiet reminder that Roman supremacy rested upon both diplomacy and the readiness to project force. The globe beneath his foot declares universal dominion, while the parazonium speaks to the authority of command rather than the brutality of war — an image perfectly suited to a ruler who governed without major conflict. Denarii with such stripped-down, medallion-like reverses are highly prized for their rarity and the clarity with which they convey imperial ideology.
