Gold Aureus of Antoninus Pius, 7.35 g.
Title
Gold Aureus of Antoninus Pius, 7.35 g.
Creator
Antoninus Pius
Date
154-155 CE
Description
Obverse: Draped and cuirassed bust of Marcus Aurelius facing right; AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG(VSTVS) PII F(ILIVS): Aurelius Caesar Augustus, son of Pius.
Reverse: Helmeted Virtus/Roma standing to left with Victoria in right hand and parazonium in left; TR(IBVNICIA) POT(ESTATE) VIIII CO(N)S(VL) II: with tribunician power for the ninth time, consul for the second time.
Style/Period: Roman Empire
Under Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius was clearly destined for the throne. He received the highest honors of the state, including the consulate for the first time in 140 CE and tribunician power on the birth of his first child in 146 CE. He had married the emperor's daughter Faustina the Younger in 145 CE.
In his portraits Marcus Aurelius continues the general type of his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, with the curly hair and beard reminiscent of Greek philosopher portraits. The type was retained by all members of the Antonine family.
The military types on coins of this period may refer to the rebellion in Britain, but the personification of Virtus (compare 91.163), manly courage (especially in military affairs), is generally appropriate to a young man destined to become emperor. Perhaps Virtus (a female personification, because of the gender of the Latin word) is here to be identified also with Roma, who is depicted with similar dress and attributes.
-- Malcolm Pettingell Hyman, LU '93
Bibliography: H. Mattingly and E.A. Sydenham, The Roman Imperial Coinage III: Antoninus to Commodus (London 1930) 464 a.
In his portraits Marcus Aurelius continues the general type of his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius, with the curly hair and beard reminiscent of Greek philosopher portraits. The type was retained by all members of the Antonine family.
The military types on coins of this period may refer to the rebellion in Britain, but the personification of Virtus (compare 91.163), manly courage (especially in military affairs), is generally appropriate to a young man destined to become emperor. Perhaps Virtus (a female personification, because of the gender of the Latin word) is here to be identified also with Roma, who is depicted with similar dress and attributes.
-- Malcolm Pettingell Hyman, LU '93
Bibliography: H. Mattingly and E.A. Sydenham, The Roman Imperial Coinage III: Antoninus to Commodus (London 1930) 464 a.
Source
Former collection of Ottilia Buerger. Purchased from Abner Kreisberg, 1970.
Identifier
91.178
Rights
Wriston Art Center Galleries, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI,wriston-gallery@lawrence.edu,920-832-6890
Subject
Roman, Empire, cuirass, Marcus Aurelius, helmet, Virtus, Roma, Victoria, parazonium
Files
Citation
Antoninus Pius, “Gold Aureus of Antoninus Pius, 7.35 g.,” Lawrence University Classics Department & Ottilia Buerger Coin Collections, accessed November 5, 2026, https://thor.lawrence.edu/omeka/buerger/items/show/282.