Antoninus Pius, 138-161. as. 27 mm.
ANCILLA below two oval shields with rounded projections like shells above and below.
IMPERATOR II.  S C either side.

RIC 736a. Struck 143-144. Sear II 4293.

Antoninus Pius reigned when the 900th anniversary of the founding of Rome occured. This type harkens back to the myth of a sacred shield falling from the sky in the time of Numa. There were 12 such shields in the Temple of Mars, 12 ancilla, including the original and 11 copies made to disguise which one was the original because it was important for the safety of Rome. 
 

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