Antoninus Pius - Titus Aelius Caesar Antoninus (earlier Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boinius Arrius Antoninus). Adopted son and successor of Hadrian; Husband of Faustina Senior; Father of Faustina Junior and Galerius Antoninus; Grandfather of Commodus, Lucilla, Annius Verus and Aurelius Antoninus; Adoptive father of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus.

Mints: Rome

Biography: Titus Aurelius Fulvius Boionius Antoninus was born in 86 in Latium, the scion of an illustrious family. Family connections, good education, and personal capacity propelled up the traditional Roman cursus honorum: he held the office of quaestor, praetor, and finally consul in 130; then circuit judge of Italy and proconsul of Asia. When Hadrian fell ill in 138, Antoninus was a natural choice. The honorific title of "Pious" was conferred upon him after he succeeded in persuading the Senate to deify his predecessor Hadrian. His reign was largely peaceful, and military activity was restricted to suppressing revolts and extending the defense fortifications of the Empire. As often as possible he preferred to employ diplomacy rather than war to achieve his aims. His interests were mostly in Italy, which he meant to strengthen as the pinnacle of the Empire and its natural core. He never left Italy throughout his reign, and significant public money was poured into the urbanization and beautification of the province. His efforts earned his reign the designation "Golden Age" of imperial peace and prosperity. A small but important curiosity: the figure of "Britania" on his coins is the prototype of the figure depicted on Britain's fifty-pence peace.

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