© American Numismatic Society (ANS)
© American Numismatic Society (ANS)
Sestertius - Antoninus Pius FELICITAS AVG S C; Felicitas
| Bronze | 26.5 g | 33 mm |
| Issuer | Rome › Roman Empire (27 BC - 395 AD) |
|---|---|
| Emperor | Antoninus Pius (Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius) (138-161) |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Years | 145-161 |
| Value | 1 Sestertius = ¼ Denarius |
| Currency | Denarius, Reform of Augustus (27 BC – AD 215) |
| Composition | Bronze |
| Weight | 26.5 g |
| Diameter | 33 mm |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-06 |
| Numista | N#261075 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 90% |
Reverse
Felicitas, draped, standing, left, holding capricorn in extended right hand and long caduceus, nearly vertical, in left.
Script: Latin
Lettering: FELICITAS AVG S C
Unabridged legend: Felicitas Augusti. Senatus Consultum.
Translation: The good fortune of the emperor (Augustus). Decree of the senate.
Comment
Mass varies: 22.14–34.71 g;Diameter varies: 31–37 mm;
Example of this type:
American Numismatic Society (ANS)
Source:
Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE)
Interesting fact
One interesting fact about this coin is that it features the goddess Felicitas, who was revered as a symbol of good luck and prosperity in ancient Rome. The coin's design depicts Felicitas standing on a prow, with a ship's rudder in her right hand and a caduceus, a symbol of commerce, in her left. This imagery suggests that the coin was intended to promote the idea of good fortune and prosperity in trade and commerce, which was a key aspect of the Roman Empire's economy during the reign of Antoninus Pius.
