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Copper As (27mm 11.2g) Struck AD 140-144 Rome
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III Laureate bust right
Rev: ANNONA AVG S C Annona standing right, holding cornupiae and two grain-ears over modius, prow at right.
RIC III 675 Not in Sear for this Consular year cf Sear 4294
ex. Harry Stewart Collection
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The Front (Obverse): A Ruler Establishing His Authority
The front displays a strong, mature portrait of Antoninus Pius facing right, wearing a laurel wreath. The surrounding text spells out his official early-reign titles:
- ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P: Antoninus Augustus Pius, Pater Patriae (Father of the Country).
- TR P COS III: Tribunicia Potestate, Consul III. This indicates he was exercising his tribunician power and serving his third term as consul. Because his third consulship began in AD 140 and his fourth didn't start until AD 145, this anchors the coin's production to that specific five-year window.
The Back (Reverse): The Lifeblood of Rome
The reverse features Annona, the divine personification of the grain supply of the city of Rome. For the Roman emperors, keeping the grain flowing from Egypt and North Africa was the single most critical job to prevent riots and maintain power. The coin’s imagery is a masterclass in propaganda:
- ANNONA AVG: Annona Augusti (The Grain Supply of the Emperor). This explicitly links the abundance of food directly to the emperor's good management and favor with the gods.
- The Corn Ears and Modius: Annona is shown standing, holding ears of grain over a modius—a standard dry-measuring bucket used to distribute grain rations to the public.
- The Ship's Prow: Just behind her feet, you can see the prow (front tip) of a cargo ship. This small detail reminded everyday citizens of the massive naval logistics required to sail the grain across the Mediterranean to the port of Ostia.
- S C: Senatus Consulto. These two large letters flanking the figure stand for "By Decree of the Senate." This is a standard feature on Roman bronze coins, proving that the money was officially authorized by the Senate, rather than being an illegal imitation.
When an average Roman citizen spent this coin at the market, the message was unmistakable: Don't worry about starving. Your emperor has the ships moving, the storehouses full, and the grain supply completely under control.
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