A set of Faustina II provincials from Pautalia in Thrace

These coins are quite common and over the years, I have accumulated nine different reverse types of Faustina Junior coins from Pautalia in Thrace. Ruzicka* considers all of them to be the triassarion denomination, and they range in size from about 21-23 mm in size from about 6-7 g in weight. All bear the obverse inscription ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ and the reverse inscription ΟVΛΠΙΑC ΠΑVΤΑΛΙΑC. The editors of RPC IV consider all of the coins to have been struck during the reign of Marcus Aurelius and during her lifetime, AD 161-175.

These coins are a flyspecker's paradise. Ruzicka notes 94 different combinations of obverse and reverse varieties, which vary in the spacing of the letters of the inscriptions as well as in bust and reverse type. For each separate catalog entry, he cites examples in the major museum collections in Europe at the time, typically 4-6 different specimens per each entry. Although Ruzicka's catalog contains plates, only a few of the 94 catalog entries for Faustina's coins are illustrated. Fortunately, some examples from the same museum collections cited by Ruzicka are illustrated at RPC IV online and at the Corpus Nummorum, which allows for die studies and positive identification of varieties.

I purchased some of these from Gerhard Rohde about five years ago, who notes,

This coin is part of a large hoard consisting of 673 pieces of Faustina II plus 4 coins of Crispina. It hit the market abt. 15 - 20 years ago without any information on site or circumstances how it was found. The coins were not cleaned but show a uniformly shiny patina. Many are extremely worn. Still, all coins are attributed with special consideration of die varieties. Nobody knows why this hoard consists of Faustina II coins only (the 4 Crispina coins might have been taken erroneously in because in a worn state, they like very similar to Faustina coins.) ... Pautalia is represented with 76 different obverse dies of Faustina II alone!​

Feel free to post your coins of Pautalia, comments, or anything you feel is relevant.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 6.08 g, 21.1 mm, 1 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ-CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; band of pearls around head.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC ΠΑ-VΤΑΛΙΑC, Hera, veiled, standing, left, holding patera and long scepter.
Refs: Ruzicka 71; RPC IV 8793.
Notes: Obverse die match to RPC IV 8793(5) = Ruzicka 71(3) = Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum 8767.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 6.32 g, 22.1 mm, 7 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤ-ΕΙΝΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; band of pearls around head.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC Π-ΑVΤΑΛΙΑC, Demeter standing, facing, head, l., holding patera over altar and long torch.
Refs: Ruzicka 85; RPC VI 8803.
Notes: Double die match to RPC VI 8803(1) = Ruzicka 85(1) = Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum 8768.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 5.96 g, 20.7 mm, 1 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙ-ΝΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; double band of pearls around head.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC ΠΑ-VΤΑΛΙΑC, veiled Demeter seated, l., holding three ears of corn and long torch.
Refs: RPC IV 3926 (obv), 8810 (rev); Ruzicka 91 (obv), 98 (rev).
Notes: Obverse die match to RPC 3926(4) = Ruzicka 91(4) = Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum 8765.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 6.34 g, 23.4 mm, 7 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝ-Α CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; band of pearls around head.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC-ΠΑVΤΑΛΙ-ΑC, Dionysus seated on panther walking, r., resting r. arm on panther, holding thyrsus.
Refs: RPC IV 8811; Ruzicka 99.
Notes: Double die match to RPC IV 8811(4) = Ruzicka 99(4) = Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum 8775.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 7.19 g, 21.7 mm, 7 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ-CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; double band of pearls around head.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC ΠΑV-ΤΑΛΙΑC, Athena seated, l., holding owl and spear; resting foot on footrest; leaning against seat, shield.
Refs: RPC IV 10035, Ruzicka 108.
Notes: Double die match to RPC IV 10035(1) = Ruzicka 108(2) = Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France 957 (ex 779).


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 6.57 g, 21.7 mm, 8 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ-CΕΒΑCΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, right; band of pearls around head.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC-ΠΑV-ΤΑΛΙΑC, Roma (or Athena Nikephoros?) enthroned left, wearing a Corinthian helmet, holding Nike in outstretched right hand and spear in left arm.
Refs: RPC IV 8814; Ruzicka 142.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 5.99 g, 20.1 mm, 1 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝΑ-CΕΒΑCΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust of Faustina II, right.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC Π-ΑVΤΑΛΙΑC, Hygieia standing facing, head right, feeding serpent held in right arm from patera in outstretched left hand.
Refs: RPC IV 8820; Ruzicka 121; CN 6142; Varbanov 4484.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 6.94 g, 21.1 mm, 1 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙΝ-Α CΕΒΑCΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust of Faustina II, right.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC-ΠΑVΤΑΛΙΑC, Hygieia standing, r., feeding serpent from patera; serpent entwined around column.
Refs: RPC IV 8793; Ruzicka 127.
Notes: Double die match to RPC IV 8793(1) = Ruzicka 127(1) = National Archaeological Museum, Sofia 1100 = Moushmov 4116.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman provincial triassarion, 6.28 g, 23.6 mm, 7 h.
Thrace, Pautalia, AD 161-175.
Obv: ΦΑVCΤΕΙ-ΝΑ CΕΒΑCΤΗ, bare-headed and draped bust of Faustina II, right.
Rev: ΟVΛΠΙΑC Π-Α-VΤΑΛΙΑC, Tyche standing facing, head left, wearing kalathos, holding rudder in right hand and cornucopia in left arm.
Refs: RPC IV 8832; Ruzicka 142; CN 8426; Varbanov 4490.

~~~

*Ruzicka, Leon. Die Münzen Von Pautalia. Sofia Staatsdruckerei, 1933, pp. 57-73.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

That's a great set of provincial Faustinas! I appreciate your dedication to the Nerva-Antonine period and you willingness to also show numismatically interesting coins that are not shiny and immediately appealing. Those are the posts one learns from.

I only have one coin from Pautalia since I don't really collect provincials. It's not pretty and I've shown it before, but it's a hilarious example of sloppy provincial engraving – so here it comes again. This type exists for both Geta and Caracalla:


Caracalla, Roman Empire, provincial AE issue of Pautalia in Thrace, ca. 211–217 (?). Obv: Π AV[T K M A or similar] ANTONEI, laureate head of Caracalla r. Rev: OYΛΠIAC [ΠAYTAΛIAC], snake coiled on short column/altar. 17.5–21mm, 5.69g. Ref: Varbanov II, 4975 var. (legend); see also Ruzicka (1933), no. 758, 842, and 844.

On my coin, the legend starts with a Π (for Publius Septimius Geta) and thus indicates Geta, whose legends comparable coins reads Π CEPTI GETAC KAI or similar.

Yet, the legend ends with a final ANTONEI for Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus, better known as Caracalla. His legend on coins of Pautalia tends to be something along the lines AVT K M A ANTΩNEI or similar.

I therefore suspect that the engraver started with a Geta legend, recognized his mistake after the first letter, and decided to simply continue with the correct Caracalla legend.

 

Nice group, RC!! That seated Demeter and seated Athena are superb!! Pautalia easily has the ability to be a really enjoyable focus of collecting (through evidence of what you present here), with many reverse types available, and a handful of emperors (and empresses) that struck fascinating coinage.

I've previously had 3 from there, but they have gone on to others via AMCC.


THRACE, Pautalia: Faustina II (147-175), AE22. 7.17g, 22mm.
Obv: ΦAVCTEINA CEBACTH; draped bust right, hair knotted behind head.
Rev: OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC; Tyche, kalathos on head, standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae.
BMC 142,12, Ruzicka 139; Moushmov 4114; Varbanov 4490


THRACE, Pautalia: Geta (209-211), AE18. 4.62g, 18mm.
Obv: P CEPTI - GETAC K; draped bust right.
Rev: PAVTALIWTWN; Braided basket filled with grapes.
Ruzicka 847, Varbanov 5348


THRACE, Pautalia: Caracalla (198-217), AE18. 3.20g, 18mm.
Obv: AYT K M ANTΩNIN; Laureate bust right.
Rev: OVΛΠIAC ΠAVTAΛIAC; Athena standing left, holding patera in left hand over a flaming altar, spear in right.
Moushmov 4239 var (size).

 

The most interesting is with panther.
I have two Faustina II and one Geta from Thrace, Pautalia:

 

Thanks for the kind words. Your coin, with its engraving error, is interesting. It's this sort of thing that makes collecting provincials and branch mint coins fun. Here are the relevant pages from Ruzicka if you'd like to read more. It doesn't look like he was aware of this obverse variety.

Thanks for the kind words, @Justin Lee . Maybe I should get that seated Demeter slabbed! Cool coins, too. I like the little 1-1/2 assaria pieces (so, Ruzicka) by Geta and Caracalla. I wonder if any CT members purchased them from AMCC.

My favorite is the Panther, too. You have two reverse types that have thus far eluded me:

Homonoia wearing kalathos, standing l., holding patera and cornucopiae. Your obverse type is one from RPC IV 8827, Ruzicka 132–4 and 135a (unfortunately, none illustrated), but the reverse inscription matches RPC IV 8829, Ruzicka 136 (again, none illustrated). Here's the relevant page from Ruzicka:



Your second coin of Faustina II is very interesting. It's probably one of the veiled Demeter standing facing, head left, holding two ears of corn and poppy in right hand, left resting on long scepter or long torch types (CN 9098, RPC IV 8802 Ruzicka 82–4, RPC IV 8799 Ruzicka 79, or RPC IV 8797 Ruzicka 77). However, that reverse die is not illustrated at RPC IV online and at the Corpus Nummorum.

Moreover, the female figure on your coin's reverse doesn't appear to be wearing a veil, but a kalathos (?), and she's holding something that doesn't quite look like grain and poppy in her right hand. Moreover, there appears to be a dog or something at her feet in the lower right field.



But there's nothing in Ruzicka that quite matches this description. What do you have it attributed as?

 

And if anyone's looking for a simpler classification scheme, here's the British Museum's holdings for Faustina II from Pautalia.

 

I look http://www.wildwinds.com and acsearch and I did not find another same example as my second Faustina II.

 

I know. I couldn't find another example of your coin's reverse anywhere online.

 

@Roman Collector Here's mine from the same hoard. Sorry for no background data/extensive description. Thanks everybody for the info on these!

 

Found this thread really interesting thanks!
Paul

 

I think I just bought the lower right coin in the six coin photo from Macromius post two bumps up.

 

Regarding my purchase, I do believe this might be very similar to the coin posted by Roman Collector. (see below)
It is just as much fun for me to investigate ancient coins I buy as much as it is fun to collect them.

I wanted to have a coin to post on Faustina Friday someday.
Hey, it will do.
Reading some history on her now.

Mine (picture borrowed from above and resized)

 

Image borrowed and resized from sale by Macromius
Do I have it right Roman Collector?

Definitely the same coin.

 

Looks like the exact same coin to me!! How fun!

 

Thank you both!