Antoninus Pius Silver Denarius 157AD Annona Reverse

Emperor Antoninus Pius (r. 138-161 A.D.) Silver AR Denarius

Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P IMP II, Head of Antoninus Pius, laureate, right

Reverse: TR POT XXI COS IIII, Annona, draped, standing right, left foot on prow, holding rudder in right hand and modius in left

Date: c. 157-158 A.D., RIC 275

Size: 17mm diameter, 3.46g weight

Composition: Silver

The reverse of this coin features Annona, Roman goddess/personification of the grain supply to the city of Rome. The Roman government imported grain (primarily wheat, but also corn) from its territory in Egypt, North Africa and Sicily, and provided it to the citizens of Rome at subsidized prices or - for a lucky ~200k low-income citizens - for free. Annona is here depicted steering a rudder (hundreds or even thousands of ships were required to import the grain across the Mediterranean) and holding a modius, a Roman vessel/unit of measure used for grain.