In AD 148 Rome celebrated its 900th birthday. Antoninus Pius marked it with lavish games in which exotic animals, including elephants, were shown to the public, and this coin praises his ‘munificence’ (generosity). The site credits Marcus Aurelius, his adopted son and successor, but the legend names Antoninus Pius.
Castings, Coins, KM
KM-991-Gold-SS Antoninus Pius Elephant Munificentia Coin in Silver Bezel
$20.00
Gold overlay casting pendant. Obverse: laureate head facing right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII. Reverse: an elephant walking right, MVNIFICENTIA AVG, COS IIII. This version is a gold overlay casting set in a hand-formed sterling silver bezel. Inscriptions explained: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII means ‘Antoninus Augustus Pius, Father of the Fatherland, holding the tribune’s power for the 12th time’ (this dates it to AD 148-149). MVNIFICENTIA AVG means ‘the generosity of the emperor’. COS IIII means ‘consul for the fourth time’.
