★ The Temple of Venus and Roma, Rome's largest temple ★

Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Dupondius (Orichalcum, 26 mm, 10.53 g, 12 h), Rome, 141. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P COS III Radiate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. ROMAE AETERNAE / S C Decastyle Temple of Venus and Roma with statues on roof and in pediment. BMC 1345. Cohen 701. RIC 664. Well struck and with a lovely architectural reverse. Somewhat smoothed, otherwise, good very fine.

Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 73, 11 October 1995, 385.

The temple on the reverse of this dupondius was dedicated to Venus and Roma. Conceived as a dual sanctuary, it was designed by the renowned architect Apollodorus of Damascus during Hadrian's era, yet its completion and consecration occurred under Antoninus Pius. Spanning an impressive 140 x 100 meters, it claimed the title of Rome's grandest temple.