Ave!

Antoninus Pius, Sestertius, Crossed Cornucopias Reverse

Æ; 30mm/16.6gm - Rome Mint, struck ca. 149 AD

Con/ Soft strike on the reverse, otherwise, about Very Fine. Excellent portrait and complete legend of the obverse; glossy dark brown patina.

Obv/ ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII; laureate head right.

Rev/ TEMPORVM FELICITAS S-C; Crossed cornucopias from which a grape bunch flanked by two grain ears hang, surmounted by busts of two boys facing each other. COS IIII below.

Ref/ RIC Vol III, 857 = Rare - Scarce!  (compare with a similar issue recently sold by NRC)

Seller's Note/ A. Pius struck this issue to celebrate birth of the twin sons Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Junior, namely T. Aelius Antoninus and T. Aurelius Antoninus, born in AD 149. These were the first male offspring of the couple, offering hope for the establishment of the new dynasty, but sadly both died in infancy.

Rare and low priced!