RS115556. Silver denarius, RIC III 240, RSC II 272, BMCRE IV 834, Strack 280, Hunter II -, SRCV II -, F, toned, bumps, scrape, small edge cracks, 2.348g, 16.9mm, 180^o, Rome mint, ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XVIII, laureate head right; reverse COS IIII, Fortuna standing front head right, rudder set on globe in her right hand, cornucopia in her left; ex Leu Numismatik auction 29 (24-26 Feb 2024), lot 3768 (part of)

 

The 'ship of state,' famously expounded by Plato in the Republic, likens the governance of a state to the command of a vessel. The Romans believed that Fortuna, the goddess of luck and fortune, after deserting the Persians and Assyrians, saw Alexander perish as she flew over Syria and Egypt, and at last arriving on Mount Palatine, cast aside her wings to live in Rome forever. On this coin, Fortuna is depicting holding a rudder, for steering the Roman ship of state to prosperity, symbolized by the cornucopia.