Antoninus Pius, Posthumous, Sestertius

Antoninus Pius (posthumous), Sestertius, AE, struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, Rome, AD 161–162; 25.02 g; 32 mm. Obverse: DIVVS ANTONINVS; bare head of Antoninus Pius right. Reverse: DIVO PIO S C; large garlanded altar of Divus Pius; S C in field. Struck at Rome on a broad orichalcum flan typical of Antonine sestertii. Reference: RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 1269.

Following Antoninus Pius’s death on 7 March AD 161, the Senate decreed his consecration, and Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus authorized posthumous coinage honoring the deified emperor. The legend DIVO PIO and altar reverse refer to the formal state cult and consecration rites; S C indicates senatorial authority over the bronze denomination. The issue aligns with the early commemorative program of the new reign, which included the public ceremonies on the Campus Martius and the rededication of the Forum temple as the Temple of Divus Antoninus and Diva Faustina.