Silver Denarius, Rome mint, AD 156/157 (TR POT XX · COS III) Description: Obverse with laureate head of Antoninus Pius facing right, with imperial titulature including TR POT XX COS III. Reverse depicting Ceres seated on a throne, holding her attributes; a snake at her feet, symbolizing fertility, renewal, and the chthonic forces of the earth. The type emphasizes agricultural abundance and the stability of Rome’s grain supply. Historical context: Antoninus Pius presided over one of the most peaceful and prosperous reigns of the Roman Principate. His coinage focuses on civil virtues and economic well-being rather than military achievement. The imagery of Ceres with a serpent underscores continuity, prosperity, and the reliable provisioning of the empire during a period of exceptional internal stability.