Abstract: An aqueous coating composition including a pigment and an aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer including, as copolymerized units, from 50% to 99.75% by weight, based on dry polymer weight, monoethylenically unsaturated nonionic (meth)acrylic monomer and from 0.25% to 10% by weight, based on dry polymer weight, monoethylenically unsaturated acid monomer, the polymer having a Tg of −10° C. to 35° C. wherein the emulsion polymer is formed by a certain emulsion polymerization process at a temperature of from 70° C. to 99° C. in the presence of a thermal initiator is provided. Further provided is a method for forming a dry coating therefrom.