Antoninus Pius - Italia denarius rare (F2407)

Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3,1 g), Rome, 140. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. ITALIA Italia seated left on globe, holding cornucopiae in her right hand and long scepter in her left. BMC 213. Cohen 463. RIC 73. very fine.

This  impressive piece displays the personification of Italia on its reverse; her appearance here, as well as on contemporary denarii and aes issues, was a way of emphasizing the empire's historic core after the many issues of Hadrian, and those of Pius himself, celebrating the provinces.