Antoninus Pius - TEMPLE of Venus RARE sestertius (AP26122)

Antoninius Pius (138-161 AD). Æ Sestertius (32 mm, 30,69 g). Rome, 141 AD.

Obv. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III, Laureate head right with drapery

Rev. ROMAE AETERNAE, pellet within decastyle temple set on three-tiered base; pediment decorated with statues; statues of Aeternitas as acroteria.

RIC III 622; BMCRE 1281; Cohen 699.

 The great temple of Venus and Rome, actually two temples that were back to back, the temple of Venus faced the Flavian ampitheatre and that of Rome overlooked the Forum, was designed by Hadrian himself. Construction began in 121 AD and and remained unfinished on Hadrian's death in 138 AD. Construction was finally completed in 141 AD under Antoninus Pius, the event celebrated by this coin.