Antoninus Pius, 138-161 CE
Rome mint. Struck 158-159 CE
AR Denarius 18mm, 3.22g, 12h)
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P XXII. Laureate head r
Rev: COS IIII. Figure standing l. on pedestal holding branch(?) and torch or short scepter, within distyle shrine with ornate semicircular roof; statues leaning outwards at corners.
RIC III 285; RSC 331. BMC 915
Ex Akropolis Coins
As far as I can tell, there’s no consensus on the statue that’s depicted on this coin. That it’s a statue is clear, with the pedestal and pose, and no doubt it existed somewhere. My belief, based on other statues and attributions, is this depicts the Genius of the Senate.
The title of “genius” is a bit odd to the modern reader, but the Romans believed a divine nature existed in every person, place or thing. The best analogy to today would be a guardian angel. This genius accompanies you during your entire life. So, do you recall that time you spilled paint on the rug and blamed your brother? Yup, your genius saw that. He also noticed when you tripped over the dog and when you slipped on the ice onto your ass. It was thanks to your genius you didn’t break anything, though he probably keeled over laughing.
To thank one’s genius for ensuring one’s idiotic mistakes weren’t lethal, it was customary to construct a statue honoring him. A genius existed for inanimate objects too. For example, every volcano had a genius, and it was custom to erect a statue of him as a way to say “hey! We have cookies and cake over here!” so as to dissuade him from getting bored after the ten thousandth game of solitaire and slapping the “erupt” button for kicks.
Recently, I proposed to my wife that we order a statue of myself in marble with the plaque “To my Genius” that she would polish and pray to each day. After I regained consciousness from some sort of blunt instrument that struck me the moment I turned, she interpreted the event as a sign from my Genius to give up the matter.
In this case, The Roman Senate had its own genius. Today, the word “genius” is not typically associated with people in politics, but back then paying homage to the Genius of the Senate was a form of brown nosing. It is possible this was minted at a time when the emperor wished to be on the good side of the Senate.
The time when this coin was minted, 158-159 CE, was one of relative peace in the Roman Empire. In fact, I was not able to uncover much of anything that happened. In 156 CE, Rome celebrated its 900 anniversary. In 161 CE, Antoninus Pius consumed some ill-fated cheese. In between, we don’t really know what happened.