Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 186. Estimate CHF15000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF12000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Aureus (Gold, 7.38 g 6), Rome, 152-153. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVI Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. COS IIII Togate emperor standing to left, holding globe. BMC 796. Calicó 1521. C. 309. RIC 226. A coin with a fine portrait, nicely struck and centered. Good extremely fine.

From the Z collection, Switzerland.

Antoninus Pius presided over an Empire that was at the height of its powers. There were no wars of importance and no real problems, quite a difference from the more turbulent reigns that came before and after. In fact, he gave the Empire a needed period of calm and rest before the troubles that were to develop under Marcus Aurelius. If any period of Roman history can be considered a ‘golden age’, it must be the Antonine.