Reproduction As of Antoninus Pius - Britannia

Obverse: Laureate head of Antoninus Pius right. Text around ANTONONVS AVG PIVSPP TRP XVIII.

Reverse: Britannia seated left on rock, head propped on right hand, left hand on rock. To left round shield and eagle tipped sceptre. Text around BRITANNIA COS IIII, S C.

History: During his reign, Antoninus Pius paid particular attention to Britain, crushing a revolt in Northern Britain and pushing the Roman line further North of Hadrian’s Wall into the Lowlands of Scotland.

This coinage features a mournfully seated Britannia, so that the Romans could show off that they had conquered the ‘barbarians’ of Britain. It is unclear if the coins were struck in the Roman province of Britannia or if they were produced in Rome and shipped to Britain.

Date: Circa 155 AD

Diameter: 2.8cm