Featuring the probably most common of all the ladies to be found on Roman coinage, this Sestertius of Faustina the Younger (minted by her father Antonius Pius) is neither rare nor does it feature spectacular detail. But it only cost me 40 Euros, is one of my heaviest Sestertii at 27.28 grams, and due to it´s lustrous Orichalcum surfaces looks like a poor man´s gold medallion :-D The most astonishing things about the younger Faustina´s life could be her fertility (she gave Marcus Aurelius around 14 children between 147 and 170 a.d., so the claims of her unfaithfulness cannot all be true) and the number of various hairstyles seen on her portraits. FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL / S C Draped bust right / Diana standing left, holding arrow and resting hand on bow Sestertius, Rome 147-161 31mm / 27,28 gr RIC (A.Pius) 1383; C 206; BMC (A.Pius) 2194 So what are your heaviest Sestertii? And can any of the experts here narrow down the date of my coin (according to the hairstyle or whatever)? I only know that it must have been minted after Dec.1, 147, the day she received the title of Augusta. Or, on a lighter note, do you know of any queen or empress with more offspring than Faustina? (I can only think about Holy Roman Empress Maria Theresia beating her with 5 sons and 11 daughters)...
I have always appreciated the portraiture on the issues for Faustina under her father, Antoninus Pius. This is my favorite sestertius of hers, with a dark patina with orichalcum highlights: Faustina Jr., wife of Marcus Aurelius, Augusta AD 147-175 Rome, issued under Antoninus Pius, AD 147-150 22.96 gm; 30.4 mm Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, diademed and draped bust, r. Rev: VENERI GENETRICI SC, Venus Genetrix standing l., holding apple and child in swaddling clothes. Refs: RIC 1386b; BMCRE 2145; Sear 4718.
Sweet coins, fellas ... both are totals winners!! Ummm, Faustina Jr, eh? Well, I only have an AR example of that fine lady ... ... yup, it's the the high-fivin' twins
I have a dupondius struck under Marcus Aurelius with Faustina Junior on both sides....two for the price of one! AE Dupondius or As 12.49gm - 27mm Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA Bust of Faustina, right, her hair arranged in a chignon behind the head Rev: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA bust of Faustina, right, her hair arranged in a chignon behind the head
That's interesting but also a little weird. The obverse dies were usually set in an anvil, whereas the reverse dies were typically hand-held. To mix up the two dies seems difficult to do.
Great FII @Julius Germanicus ! I enjoy that Orichalcum shine! I only have a Denarius of hers... RI Faustina Jr 161-175 CE Ar Denarius m Marcus Aurelius 17.1mm 3g
Yes, I jump in on this one! Faustina the Younger, Rome, AD 128-175 AE, 31mm, 23.72g; Rome mint Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA; draped bust right wearing circlet of pearls Rev: IVNONI REGINAE S-C; Juno, veiled, standing left, holding patera & scepter; peacock standing left at feet, head reverted This coin is special to me for a couple reasons: 1. First empress coin! 2. Big & heavy bronze! 3. It has a peacock! 4. And the maybe the most important, @stevex6 was incredibly gracious to gift it to me!
The Sestertius and the As of the OP coin: Faustina Jr., wife of Marcus Aurelius, Augusta AD 147-175 Rome, issued under Antoninus Pius, AD 154-156 Æ Sestertius (25.19 g; 31.2 mm) and Æ As (9.75 g; 24.2 mm) Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA AVG PII F, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: S C, Diana standing left, holding arrow and resting on bow. Refs: Sestertius: RIC 1383; BMCRE 2180; RCV 4717; As: RIC 1405c (var.); RCV 4733 (var.).
Cool posts guys!!! WOW !! @ancientcoinguru's dupondius is way interesting to me! And, I'll pile on with a dupondius of my own FAVSTINA AVGVSTA draped bust right. FECVNDITAS S - C Fecunditas standing right, holding long sceptre and infant on outstretched hand. RIC 1639. 12.7 grams
Really like the OP coin, natural orichalcum looks great to me, go zinc! This is an intriguing coin from @ancientcoinguru. Is this a mint error or was it deliberate to have the same obverse and reverse? I don't think I know any other ancient coin where this is the case? Anyone else have something like this? John
I apologize! I forgot to provide a date or reference for my dupondius...RIC 1719 var C. 92 var., Cohen 92. I owe thanks to several CT members for the attribution. @Pishpash found an example on acsearch https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=faustina 1719&category=1&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ot=1&images=1¤cy=usd&thesaurus=1&order=0&company= @dougsmit confirmed the RIC attribution and @Roman Collector found the Cohen attribution. I bought the coin from Tom Cederlind, who thought it was deliberated minted with the same obverse and reverse. It was minted in AD 146 or later, since Faustina Junior was given the title of Augusta on the birth of her first child in AD 146. I have a new camera, here is a better photo