Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.00 g, 6 h), Rome, circa 140. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. TR POT COS III She-wolf standing right within cave, suckling the twins Romulus and Remus. BMC 245. Cohen 915. RIC 95. Light scratches on the reverse, otherwise, good fine.



The scene of the reverse relates to the early foundation myths of Rome, and shows the she-wolf nursing the twins, Romulus and Remus, in the Lupercal - a cave located on the southwestern foot of the Palatine Hill. The twins were supposedly suckled by the she-wolf until the shepherd, Faustulus, discovered them and took them home to his wife so that they could raise them. The cave itself was long was used as a place for holding festivals and also as a place of worship from Rome's beginnings until the end of the fifth century AD.