Silver Denarius of Antoninus Pius RIC 70

Silver Denarius (18mm 2.99g) Struck AD 141 Rome

Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III Laureate head right

Rev: GENIVS POP ROMANI Genius of the Roman people standing facing, head right, holding a scepter and cornucopia

RIC III 70 Sear 4085
ex. William Roth Collection

The Front (Obverse): Meet the Emperor

On the front, we see a portrait of the emperor wearing a laurel wreath (a classic Roman symbol of victory and honor) looking to the right.

The Latin text wrapping around his head is a big list of his titles:

ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III

Here is what all those abbreviations mean:

• ANTONINVS: His name, Antoninus.
• AVG (Augustus): The official title for "Emperor."
• PIVS (Pius): A nickname given to him by the Roman Senate meaning "dutiful" or "pious." He earned this because he was a genuinely good, respectful guy who honored his adoptive father, the previous emperor Hadrian.
• P P (Pater Patriae): This translates to "Father of the Country"—a super prestigious title showing he was the protector of the Roman people.
• TR P (Tribunicia Potestas): This means he held the "Tribunician Power," making him the ultimate political protector of the citizens.
• COS III (Consul Tertium): This tells us he was serving his third term as a consul (one of the highest elected offices in Rome). Because he was on his third term, historians can pin down that this exact coin was minted AD 141.

The Back (Reverse): The "Vibe" of Rome

Flip the coin over, and you see a figure standing up, holding a scepter in one hand and a giant cornucopia (a horn of plenty overflowing with food) in the other.

The text reads:

GENIVS POP ROMANI

• Genius Populi Romani translates to "The Genius of the Roman People."
• In ancient Rome, a "Genius" wasn't a super-smart person; it was a divine guardian spirit. Every person, place, and even the entire population of Rome had a guardian spirit that looked out for them.

What is the message?

By putting the guardian spirit of the Roman people holding a cornucopia on his currency, Antoninus Pius was broadcasting a clear message: "Under my rule, the spirit of Rome is protected, wealthy, well-fed, and prosperous." It was the ultimate ancient public relations move to keep the public happy and confident in his leadership!