Antoninus Pius

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Antoninus Pius was a Roman emperor from 138 to 161 AD. He was one of the Five Good Emperors in the Nerva-Antonine dynasty. Born into a senatorial family, Antoninus held various offices during Hadrian's reign, earning him favor and adoption as Hadrian's son and successor just before his death. He earned the name Pius after ascending to the throne by either forcing the Senate to deify Hadrian or saving senators sentenced to death by Hadrian in his later years. Antoninus' reign is notable for the Empire's peaceful state, with no major revolts or military incursions during this time. A successful campaign in southern Scotland early in his reign led to the construction of the Antonine Wall. As an effective administrator, Antoninus left a large surplus in the treasury and expanded free access to drinking water throughout the Empire. He also encouraged legal conformity and facilitated the enfranchisement of freed slaves. Antoninus died of illness in 161 AD, succeeded by his adopted sons Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus as co-emperors. He was the last Roman emperor born in the first century AD. This object is part of Scan The World, a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for free access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items and want to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how to help.