Ave!

Antoninus Pius, Sestertius, Salus Reverse, Scarce!

Orichalcum; 31mm/23.1gm  -  Rome mint 144 AD

Con/ Minor porosity on the reverse, otherwise, Good Very Fine; obverse struck in high relief with a splendid portrait of the emperor, dark brown patina with bright orichalcum highlights; a choice example of this difficult issue.

Obv/ ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III; laureate head right

Rev/ DES IIII S-C; Salus, seated left, feeding snake coiled round altar out of patera and resting left elbow on chair; behind, rudder on globe, SC in exergue.

Ref/ RIC Vol III, 751 = Scarce

Seller's Note/ A scarcer type with the reverse dated to Pius' election as Consul for the 4th time, struck in the period between the consular elections in November and the assumption of Consular duties on Jan 1st!