Divus Antoninus Pius, died 161. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 33 mm, 24.50 g, 12 h), Rome, struck under Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, 162. DIVVS ANTONINVS Bare head of Divus Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. DIVO PIO / S - C Column of Antoninus Pius set on low base and surmounted by statue of Divus Antoninus, holding eagle in his right hand and scepter in his left. BMC 880. Cohen 354. MIR 46-6/10. RIC 1269. Attractive green patina and a wonderful architectural reverse type. Some light smoothing on the obverse, otherwise, nearly very fine.

The reverse of this beautiful sestertius depicts the column of Antoninus Pius which was erected by his adoptive sons, Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, shortly after his death in 161. The column and base were rediscovered in 1703 in the Campus Martius. The column was made of a monolithic slab of red Egyptian granite, unlike the highly decorative column of Trajan and later, Marcus Aurelius. In contrast, the white marble base is highly decorative and carved into the stone is the scene of the apotheosis of the emperor and his wife Faustina the Elder, witnessed by Roma and the personification of the Campus Martius, as well as two cavalry processions. The column has since been destroyed however the base is now in the courtyard outside the entrance to the Vatican Pinacoteca.