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Besides inclusion among Rome’s “good Emperors,” Marcus Aurelius also turned out one of the most procreant. His three-decade-long marriage to Faustina Jr resulted in more than a dozen children, including two sets of twins. Six of these children reached adulthood, and at least three unambiguously appear on ancient Roman coins and medals: Lucilla (who became an Empress in 164 AD upon marrying her uncle Lucius Verus), Commodus (who became co-Caesar in 166 AD, and succeeded his father as Emperor in 171 AD), and Annius Verus (who served as co-Caesar from 166 AD until his death a few years later). Other offspring of Marcus Aurelius appear on ancient Roman coinage, albeit with uncertain attribution. For instance, coins were struck featuring Faustina the Younger as Fecunditas (the Roman goddess of fertility) or Felicitas (divine personification of productivity, blessedness, and happiness) with as many as six children of varying ages from infants to young adults. In the absence of identifying inscriptions, we may never which - or even if - other progeny of Marcus Aurelius and Fasutina Jr. were portrayed.
The current coin, a rare sestertius struck in Rome, provides yet another, intriguing example. The obverse features the laureate bust of Augustus Antoninus Pius, along with the epithet ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII. This inscription indicates that Antoninus Pius served as
tribunicia potestate, or Tribune of the Roman people, for his twelfth term. Since the title was held for one year, coins with such an inscription can be dated to within some accuracy. In the case of this coin, its production can be narrowed to 148-149 AD. Further affirmation of the date is provided by the coin’s reverse inscription TEMPORVM FELICITAS COS IIII (denoting Antoninus Pius’ fourth term as consul). The main feature of the verso is a pair of crossed cornucopiae, adorned with grape clusters and grain ears, surmounted by busts of two young children. The design mimics a sestertius struck more a century earlier, to commemorate the birth of twin sons of Drusus the Younger and Livilla.
Although Antoninus Pius and his wife Fasutina Sr. had four children, only one, namely Fasutina Jr. survived to adulthood. Therefore, the two children depicted on this sestertius struck in 148-149 AD were Antoninus’ grandchildren, i.e., children of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina Jr. Regarding the exact identification of the imperial infants, a number of possibilities exist. NGC has noted the attribution of Aurelius Antoninus and a non-named sibling. Besides this sestertius, there are only two other imperial issues attributed to Aurelius Antoninus, who must have died quite young. The non-named sibling appearing on the verso remains uncertain, and the candidates include Lucilla and Aelius Antoninus.
Regardless of true attribution, this coin was clearly intended to celebrate the expansion of the imperial family and spread hope for a stable and prosperous future.
Coin Details: ROMAN EMPIRE, Antoninus Pius with Aelius Antoninus and Lucilla, Sestertius (32.26 mm, 23.91 g), 148-149 AD, NGC Grade: Ch F, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Laureate head of Antoninus Pius right, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XII, Reverse: Crossed cornucopiae with busts of two boys, TEMPORVM FELICITAS COS IIII S-C, References: RIC III 857; Banti 0410.