Choice “British Victory” Antoninus Pius Sestertius

368, Lot: 427. Estimate $1500. Sold for $2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Sestertius (34mm, 30.91 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 141-143. Laureate head right / Victory flying right, holding transverse trophy with both hands. RIC III 717a; Banti 178 var. (break in obv. legend). Good VF, dark green to black surfaces. Struck on a broad flan.

Ex Gemini IV (8 January 2008), lot 428.

Antoninus Pius received his second imperial acclamation, as recorded in this coin’s reverse legend, for the victory by his governor in Britannia, Lollius Urbicus, over the Brigantes. It was Urbicus that also constructed the Antonine Wall in Scotland from Forth to Clyde.