Antoninus Pius AR Denarius (Aequitas, RIC III 10a var.)

ANTONINUS PIUS, AD 138-161
AR Denarius (18.5mm, 3.33g, 5h)
Struck AD 138. Rome mint
Obverse: IMP T AEL CAES HADRI ANTONINVS, bare headed bust of Antoninus Pius left
Reverse: AVG PIVS P M TR P COS DES II, Aequitas, draped, standing left, holding scales in right hand and cornucopia in left
References: RIC III 10a var. (bust left); RCV 4053 var. (same); ERIC II 390 var. (same)

Medium toning, somewhat ragged flan, well struck, excellent portrait. An early issue struck less than a year into Antoninus’ reign. This left-facing bust variant is extremely rare and known from a single obverse die. In all my researches I was able to find only two other specimens, which are reverse die matches as well, making this coin possibly the third known example.

Collection : Roman Imperial - the Nerva-Antonine Emperors