Silver Denarius Divvs Antoninus Pius by Marcus Aurelius RIC 431

Silver Denarius (18mm, 3.25g) Struck AD 161. Rome

Obv: DIVVS ANTONINVS Bare head right

Rev: CONSECRATIO Eagle standing right on garlanded altar, head turned left.

RIC III 431 (Aurelius) Sear 5192
ex. John McConnell Collection (aka Da Wurm!)

The Front (Obverse): "The Divine Antoninus"

• What you see: A portrait of Antoninus Pius looking to the right. Notice that he isn't wearing a laurel wreath or a crown. This "bare head" style was common for commemorative coins honoring the dead.
• The words: It says DIVVS ANTONINVS.
• The Meaning: The word Divus is the big clue here—it means "Divine" or "Deified." Marcus Aurelius put this on the coin to tell everyone, "Hey, my adoptive dad was such a fantastic emperor that he has officially become a god up in Elysium!"

The Back (Reverse): The Road to Elysium

• What you see: A majestic eagle standing on top of a decorated, festive altar (called a garlanded altar). The eagle is looking back over its shoulder.
• The words: It spells out CONSECRATIO (Consecration).
• The Meaning: In ancient Rome, when an emperor died, they held a massive funeral called a consecratio. They would build a gigantic wooden pyre, place the emperor's body inside, and light it on fire. At the exact moment the flames went up, they would release a live eagle from the top of the structure! To the Romans watching, that eagle symbolized the emperor's soul flying straight up to the gods.

Why did Marcus Aurelius make this?

This coin was basically a massive PR campaign. By honoring his dead father and declaring him a god, Marcus Aurelius was telling the Roman people, "You can trust me to rule, because I am the son of a god." It kept the people happy, respected tradition, and smoothly secured his new power as the next emperor.