Antoninus Pius

Antoninus Pius. A.D. 138-161 Æ medallion (46.58 g). Rome, A.D. 139. IMP T AEL CAES HADR ANTONINVS AVG PIVS, laureate head left / P M TR POT / COS in exergue, Ariadne, naked, and Bacchus, naked but for chlamys, holding thyrsus in his outstretched left hand, standing in a chariot right drawn by a female panther guided by a satyr with goat's horns and legs. Gnecchi II, 13, 37 and pl. 46, 9 (same dies); Cohen 646. Very rare and interesting. Large flan. Dark and light green patina, reverse scratch. Very fine. Ex New York Sale IV (17 January 2002), 373, estimate USD 10,000; I. Vecchi 4 (1996), 214; NAC 6 (1993), 435. NYS: The famous myth of Bacchus and Ariadne serves on this medallion as metapher for the engagement of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II, whose wedding was in AD 145.