Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 32mm, 23.24 g 12), Rome, 142. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. SC On a raised platform Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius seated left on curule chairs, Pius with his right hand outstretched and Marcus with his lowered; on the ground to left and right, lictor standing left. Banti 375. BMC 297. Cohen 764, Hill 405. RIC 628. Rare. Dark brown patina. Nearly very fine.

From the Stoecklin Collection.

This extraordinary reverse is done in a very ‘painterly’ fashion, especially since it lacks an inscription and the type takes up almost all of the field. The position of the emperors hands is noteworthy, with Pius’s open hand seeming to be a more approving gesture than his young Caesar’s lowered one.