The Roman Empire
Antoninus Pius augustus, 138 – 161
Aureus 147-148, AV 7.15 g. ANTONINVS AVG – PIVS P P TR P XI Laureate bust r. with aegis. Rev. PRIMI / DECEN / NALES within wreath. C 669 var. (without aegis). BMC –. RIC 173. Calicó 1613.
Very rare. Extremely fine Ex UBS sale 73, 2007, 378.
If any coinages may be said to represent the ‘Golden Age’ of Rome it might be those of A.D. 147 and 148, during which Antoninus Pius celebrated the 900th anniversary of the foundation of Rome and the tenth anniversary (decennalia) of his reign. An extraordinary series of games were held to mark these events, and the coins and medallions issued were of an unusually varied character. With this aureus and its related, lesser denominations the inscription PRIMI DECENNALES appears for the first time on Roman coinage.
Accompanying the commemorative issues were workaday types that echoed the prosperity of the moment. As Mattingly notes, types devoted to Annona and Aequitas-Moneta predominate, both being indications of the carefree state of affairs in the empire. The imperial coffers must have been overflowing at this time, for in addition to paying liberally for games and celebratory events, the emperor also forgave arrears of debt due to the treasury in celebration of his decennalia.