Ancient Roman Silver Antoninus Pius Coin Amulet (No reserve price)
13
days
18
hours
03
minutes
52
seconds
Current bid
€ 20
No reserve price
Expert
Selected by Peter Reynaers
Has nearly 30 years’ experience and moderated multiple online art research groups.
Estimate € 170 - € 200
 | €20 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €15 | |
 | €10 | |
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This ancient Roman silver denarius of Antoninus Pius, struck in 147 AD, was worn as an amulet and is fitted with a modern suspension ring and leather cord.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman silver denarius of Antoninus Pius, worn as an amulet in antiquity. The coin is now fixed with a modern suspension ring and modern leather jewellery cord.
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP, laureate head right.
Reverse: COS IIII, Aequitas standing front, head left, holding scales and sceptre.
Diameter: ± 18.4 mm
Reference: RSC 229 The reverse of the coin shows COS IIII, which means the coin was struck during his fourth consulship, 147 AD.
Condition: good solid condition, attractive dark patina. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Antoninus Pius was Roman Emperor from 138-161 AD and is one of the 'Five Good Emperors' from the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. His reign is notable for the internal peace and prosperity with no major revolts or military incursions.
In 142 AD the Antonine Wall was built to protect the Roman frontier in Britain.
He was married to Faustina the Elder, niece of Emperor Hadrian. Antoninus was greatly distressed after Faustina died in 141 AD and created a charity in her honour (Girls of Faustina) which assisted destitute girls of good family.
Upon his death, he left behind his successors a large surplus in the treasury.
-> Aequitas: During the Roman Empire, Aequitas as a divine personification was part of the religious propaganda of the emperor. She appeared on coins, holding a cornucopia and a balance scale (libra).
-> Piercing a coin to wear as an amulet is an ancient custom that transforms a piece of currency into a protective talisman or jewellery. Individuals drilled a hole near the edge of a coin to suspend it from a cord or sew it onto clothing, shifting its purpose from financial trade to spiritual defence.
This practice relied on the symbolic power of the coin's imagery or metal to safeguard the wearer. Coins featuring gods, holy figures, or powerful rulers were believed to channel divine protection and ward off evil, while precious metals like gold and silver were often thought to hold natural healing properties. By wearing these potent symbols directly against the body, people created intimate objects of faith, status, and personal identity.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid.
Ancient Roman silver denarius of Antoninus Pius, worn as an amulet in antiquity. The coin is now fixed with a modern suspension ring and modern leather jewellery cord.
Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP, laureate head right.
Reverse: COS IIII, Aequitas standing front, head left, holding scales and sceptre.
Diameter: ± 18.4 mm
Reference: RSC 229 The reverse of the coin shows COS IIII, which means the coin was struck during his fourth consulship, 147 AD.
Condition: good solid condition, attractive dark patina. Minor surface irregularities and signs of wear consistent with age and use.
Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) is available upon request for all lots with a hammer price of €100 or higher.
-> Antoninus Pius was Roman Emperor from 138-161 AD and is one of the 'Five Good Emperors' from the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. His reign is notable for the internal peace and prosperity with no major revolts or military incursions.
In 142 AD the Antonine Wall was built to protect the Roman frontier in Britain.
He was married to Faustina the Elder, niece of Emperor Hadrian. Antoninus was greatly distressed after Faustina died in 141 AD and created a charity in her honour (Girls of Faustina) which assisted destitute girls of good family.
Upon his death, he left behind his successors a large surplus in the treasury.
-> Aequitas: During the Roman Empire, Aequitas as a divine personification was part of the religious propaganda of the emperor. She appeared on coins, holding a cornucopia and a balance scale (libra).
-> Piercing a coin to wear as an amulet is an ancient custom that transforms a piece of currency into a protective talisman or jewellery. Individuals drilled a hole near the edge of a coin to suspend it from a cord or sew it onto clothing, shifting its purpose from financial trade to spiritual defence.
This practice relied on the symbolic power of the coin's imagery or metal to safeguard the wearer. Coins featuring gods, holy figures, or powerful rulers were believed to channel divine protection and ward off evil, while precious metals like gold and silver were often thought to hold natural healing properties. By wearing these potent symbols directly against the body, people created intimate objects of faith, status, and personal identity.
Seller's Story
Please read our information carefully.
*SHIPPING INFO Due to insurance procedures, combined shipping is only possible with a single payment. (1 payment reference = 1 insured parcel.) If you accept an offer after the auction and pay separately, shipments cannot be manually combined afterward. Please ensure your shipping address is complete and correct before paying. Changes made after payment are not automatically forwarded to us.
* CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY (COA) For insurance purposes we can provide a digital Certificate of Authenticity (PDF) for every item with a hammer price of Euro 100 or more. The COA is available upon request within 20 days of the auction date. Instructions will be provided when your order is shipped. Certificates are not included in the package.
* INSURANCE & CLAIMS All our parcels are shipped with external insurance. This insurance requires the following:
-> Monitor the online tracking and notify delays to the seller within 14 days after the shipping date.
-> In case of damage: write a reservation on the delivery note and report the damage to the seller via the Catawiki online chat within 24 hours. Keep all packaging and send us photos of the damage.
* MARGIN SCHEME: All our sales are subject to the margin scheme; therefore, no VAT is charged or shown on our invoices.
* IMPORTANT BUYERS OUTSIDE THE EU: We cannot ship to countries outside the European Union. Please ensure you have an EU shipping address before bidding. No exceptions can be made. Switzerland, Norway and the United Kingdom are not part of the EU.
* DOCUMENTATION NOTICE: Previous invoices and import/export documents will not be shared with customers.
----------------------
Thank you for your interest, and best of luck with your bids!
Details
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
147 AD
Name of object
Antoninus Pius Coin Amulet
Acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Year acquired
2023
Material
Silver
Country acquired from
Belgium
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Dealer at a fair
Previous owner - year acquired
2023
Previous owner - country acquired from
Belgium
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
