Antoninus Pius, 138-161. As (Copper, 26 mm, 11.36 g, 6 h), Rome, 154-155. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. BRITANNIA COS IIII / S C Britannia seated to left on rock, raising her right hand toward her face and leaning with her left on rock; behind, shield and vexillum. BMC 1971. Cohen 117. RIC 934. A lovely example of this normally crude issue with a beautiful green patina. Minor cleaning marks, otherwise, good very fine.

Britannia's first appearance on coins occurred during the reign of Antoninus Pius' predecessor, Hadrian, but those coins are only very rarely available. For many collectors, the first practical appearance of Britannia thus is on the coins of Antoninus Pius, such as on the beautiful example offered here, showing the personification of the province seated to the left, a type that would eventually appear again more than a millennium later, on coins of Charles II. Unfortunately, most of the surviving examples of this issue are poorly struck and corroded, making this beautifully patinated example all the more desirable.