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Æ32 - Antoninus Pius L ΙΘ
| Issuer | Alexandria (Egypt) |
|---|---|
| Year | 155-156 |
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| Reference(s) | RPC IV.4#1783 |
| Obverse description | Laureate bust of Emperor Antoninus Pius facing left, draped with paludamentum over the left shoulder, rendered in the typical Alexandrian provincial style with curling hair and beard. The emperor's effigy is portrayed with characteristic aged features and robust neck. A partial Greek legend surrounds the bust in the field, partially visible along the upper periphery of the flan. The flan itself is irregular and somewhat convex, showing typical characteristics of Alexandrian bronze coinage of the mid-second century AD. |
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| Reverse description | Dikaiosyne, the personification of Justice, seated left on a high-backed throne, depicted in draped attire. She extends her right hand forward holding a set of scales, symbolising equity and just governance, while her left arm cradles a large cornucopia, emblematic of abundance. The regnal date legend L ΙΘ (Year 19) is divided across the field to left and right of the figure. The composition follows the standard Alexandrian typology for personified virtues associated with imperial reign years. |
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| Additional information |
Year 19 of Antoninus Pius's reign, which is what the regnal date ΙΘ marks, fell during one of the more administratively stable periods in Roman Egypt. Alexandria's mint tied its bronze issues to the Egyptian calendar year rather than the consular system used in Rome, a practice that makes precise dating of Alexandrian bronzes unusually straightforward compared to provincial issues elsewhere. The city's mint was effectively operating as a closed currency system — Egyptian bronzes were not legal tender outside the province, forcing travelers to exchange at the border.