Roman VOTA coins of the second century in chronological order
Except for an extremely rare vota denarius under Augustus, vota types began under Hadrian (117-138).
Hadrian, 117-138
Denarius. 18-17 mm. 3.11 grams.
IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG
Laureate bust left with slight drapery on far shoulder.
VOT PVB, Pietas standing right, veiled, raising both hands.
PM TRP COS DES III
"Consul designate!" Struck late in 118.
While Hadrian was COS II in 118, he was chosen to become Consul for the third time in 119, but the end of the year had not come yet so he was COS DES when this coin was struck.
Antoninus Pius, 138-161
An as. 26 mm and 10.05 grams.
In the second century and the first half of the third century some vota types do not explicitly say "vota" but refer to the celebrations.
"PRIMI DECENNALES" ("the first ten years") types.
An as of Antoninus Pius .
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TRP XI (11th year)
PRIMI/DECEN/NALES/COS IIII/SC, in wreath.
Sear 4310. RIC 853a "147-8". BMC 1817.
This type has a date (TRP XI) on it. Sear's fourth edition notes that, for some very unusual reason, TRP X and TRP XI refer to the same year.
Antoninus Pius, 138-161
A sestertius. 31-30 mm. 24.87 grams.
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TRP XXII
Refers to year 22 = 158/9.
VOTA SOL DEC II
Emperor veiled and togate holding patera over tripod altar, (tiny) bull behind altar.
"DEC II" refers to ten years for the second time.
RIC 1008. BMC 2046. Sear II 4261.
The TRP date is year 22 while the vows are paid for 20. This may be because the reckoning of TRP powers changed in 147 when Antoninus Pius finished year 9 and had year 10 and began year 11, effectively squeezing two years into one.
Marcus Aurelius, Caesar 141-161, Augustus 7 March 161-180.
Denarius.
IMP M ANTONINVS AVG TRP XXV
Year 25, which is Dec. 170- Dec. 171.
PRIMI/DECEN/NALES/COS/III
This coin mentions year 10 as Augustus, not since he became Caesar.
161 was year 1, so 170 was year 10. This coin was struck as or after the tenth year was concluding.
Lucilla (wife of Lucius Verus, 161-169, and daughter of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II)
Denarius. 18 mm.
LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F
VOTA/PVBLI/CA in wreath.
Sear II 5494. RIC 791 (under Marcus. "Scarce"). BMC 329 "169".
BMC proposes that this type commemorates the vows at her marriage in 169 to a distinguished knight, after Lucius died. [BMC cxxxiv.]
Lucilla (wife of Lucius Verus, 161-169, and daughter of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II)
Denarius. 19-18 mm.
LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F
Dot in wreath, VOTA PVBLICA around
Sear II 5495. RIC 792 (Lucius Verus) "R2". BMC (M.A. and L.V.) 331.
The Reka-Devnia hoard had only 2 compared to 98 of the previous type.
Pertinax, Jan. 1 - March 28, 193 (86 days)
Denarius. 18-17 mm.
IMP CAES P HELV PERTIN AVG
VOT DECEN TRP COS II
Pertinax standing left, holding patera over tripod altar
Sear II 6048. RIC 13a "R2". BMC 24
Although he reigned only 86 days, he issued this type with vows for ten years. Clearly they are vows taken (suscepta). The Pius piece above refers to vows for ten years paid (soluta) as can be seen by the TRP XI date, but this coin proves that vows for ten years can be recorded on coins from the beginning of the reign.
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