Featured Faustina Friday – The Most Talented Die-Engraver in Rome!

Let's see your coins of Faustina you consider to be of "fine style"!

I have a handful of denarii in my collection whose portraits are quite likely to have been carved by the same die-engraver. This die engraver was clearly a master and his portraits are of a particularly fine style. I have identified the following characteristics of his work:

His portraits clearly portray Faustina wearing a stola fastened at the shoulder with a looped-shaped fibula and a palla over her stola. Unlike the situation with Julia Domna, where the loop-shaped fibula is a characteristic of the "Laodicea mint," the presence of such a design element on the coins of Faustina is not a regular feature, nor is it indicative of a particular mint. Similarly, the stola is not usually so clearly distinguished from the palla on Faustina's coinage and her portraits typically show only the palla or just the barest hint of a stola underneath. If you are unfamiliar with these particular garments, I refer you to an article I have previously written about Roman women's clothing.

The coins depict the empress with her second hairstyle under Marcus Aurelius, from AD 161 to c. 166.* This is characterized by a frame of waves bordering her face and rows of more or less wavy hair pulled back into a chignon low on the back of her head at the nape of the neck. Coins of all engravers during this period depict the empress' hairstyle in this way; however, features characteristic of this die-engraver include prominent wisps of hair across the cheek in front of the ear, as well as below the ear on the nape of the neck. In addition, he may have adorned the empress' ears with earrings.

Here are two coins I'm convinced are by the same hand:


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.40 g, 17.4 mm, 5 h.
Rome, AD 161-164.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed bust of Faustina II, draped, right.
Rev: HILARITAS, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm-branch in right hand and cornucopia in left hand.
Refs: RIC 686; BMCRE 100; RSC 111; RCV 5254; CRE 182.


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.01 g, 19.6 mm, 1 h.
Rome, AD 161-164.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Faustina II, right, wearing stephane.
Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 688 var. (stephane); BMCRE 109; RSC 120b; RCV 5255 var. (stephane); CRE 189.

And possibly this one, too:


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.20 g, 17.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 165- c.166.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: SALVS, Salus standing left, feeding snake rising from an altar and holding scepter.
Refs: RIC 715; BMCRE 141-145; RSC 197; RCV 5261; CRE 214.

For comparison, see these coins engraved by different artists of varying degrees of skill.


BMCRE 109, London Ancient Coins, Auction 42, lot 408, 1 April, 2015.


BMCRE 142, British Museum specimen.


BMCRE 112-15; my own collection.

Lastly, based upon the treatment of the stola and fibula, and upon the details of the hair, the shape of the empress’ nose and chin, and general excellence of workmanship, I think this coin with her final hairstyle (c. AD 170-175)* may also be a product of this talented die-engraver:


Faustina Jr, AD 147-175.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.54 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 170-175.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock.
Refs: RIC 688; BMC 105; Cohen 120; RCV 5255; CRE 190.

And possibly this one, too:


Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.20 g, 17.7 mm, 1 h.
Rome, c. AD 174-175.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: MATRI MAGNAE, Cybele seated left holding branch in right hand, resting left arm on drum; at her side, lion.
Refs: RIC 706; BMCRE 134; Cohen 192; RCV 5281; MIR 26; CRE 173.

~~~

*Szaivert (MIR, p. 231) notes that the end of the phase using this hairstyle is uncertain and suggests a possible break in the issuing of coins for Faustina, perhaps of several years, between this phase and the period characterized by her final hairstyle. The fact that no reverses struck for Faustina appear to celebrate the elevation of her sons, Commodus and Annius Verus, to the rank of Caesar in 166, or the birth of a last daughter in 169, suggests that the issuing of coins for Faustina may have ceased in 166 and did not resume until possibly 170. However useful Szaivert’s dating scheme may be, it’s important to note that it is tentative. Many reverse-types appear with multiple hairstyles, indicating continuous or repeated issue, and might have been in use simultaneously at times.

 

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Couple of my junior Faustina, although too worn to pick out any nuances

 

I'm not sure if I'd consider the portrait on my Faustina denarius below fine style, but I do think the reverse is better executed than most... except that the engraver seems to have forgotten about Ceres's torch!

FAUSTINA II
AR Denarius. 3.4g, 19.5mm. Rome mint, AD 161-164. RIC 669 (Aurelius). O: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair pulled back and tied in bun behind neck. R: CERES, Ceres seated left on chest, holding grain ears in extended right hand [and short torch cradled in left arm].
Ex Cardinal Joachim Meisner Collection

For portraits, this one is my favorite.


FAUSTINA II
AE Dupondius. 11.56g, 26.7mm. Rome mint, AD 147-150. RIC III 1403 (Pius); BMCRE 1086; Cohen 179. O: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, diademed and draped bust right. R: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia standing left, holding out cloak in both hands; S-C in fields.

 

Probably not an oversight!! After seeing a bronze with this same design and reading the dealer's caveat that the coin had been smoothed, I initially thought the coin had been a victim of tooling and smoothing. See here. But then other CTers came to the rescue and found additional examples of the coin!!

Because all of these coins were die-matches ... we thought it was the result of a single die-engraver forgetting to add the torch.

But we're apparently all wrong because now you've found a denarius with the same reverse type as the bronze without the torch!!! This reverse variant must have been purposeful!

Here are the bronzes with this reverse type identified by the contributors to that thread:

Kunker sale:



The Jose Herrero specimen:



The Soler y Llach specimen is a DOUBLE die match to the OP (Kunker) specimen.



Fascinating stuff!

 

Interesting! However, it seems to me that on the sestertii her left arm is held close to her body, whereas on my denarius she holds it further away, as if she were meant to cradle the absent torch?

 

..roses are red violets are blue..mines a bit worn, but he might've done it too

 

Thanks for another Faustina Friday article. I love seeing fine style Faustina portraits. I recall seeing two Diva Faustina Senior gold aureus back in January (CNG Triton) showing her younger-looking portraits. Beautiful, but prices are out of my reach..

Anyway, here are a few Faustina Junior portraits I feel having "fine style". Personal taste though. Unsure if they are made from good engravers' hands.

Faustina Junior Sestertius.


Another Faustina Junior Sestertius


Faustina Junior Denarius. Great with obverse


Faustina Junior Denarius. Later hairstyle.

 

I don't see any particular resemblance to your examples, but this is my favorite Faustina II portrait:

Faustina II [Junior] (wife of Marcus Aurelius & daughter of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 161 AD. Obv. Draped bust right, hair in chignon behind, wearing stephane, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA / Rev. Two infant boys seated on draped throne (pulvinar), each raising an arm towards the other, with hands touching [compass dot between them], SAECVLI FELICIT. RIC III [Marcus Aurelius] 712, RSC II 191 [variety without stars above boys’ heads], Sear RCV II 5260 (ill.), BMCRE 139, Dinsdale 005600(a) [Dinsdale, Paul H., The Imperial Coinage of the Middle Antonines: Marcus Aurelius with Lucius Verus and Commodus, Ch. 4, Faustina II - Undated, 158-176 (http://romanpaulus.x10host.com/Marcus/04 - Faustina II - Undated, 158-176 (med_res).pdf) at p. 57; photo at p. 62]. 17.5 mm., 3.39 g., 12h. [The two infant boys are Faustina II’s twin sons b. 31 Aug 161 AD: Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus (the older twin, d. 165 AD) and Commodus, the ninth and tenth children of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II.]



My other favorite Faustina II portrait was on this coin, which I really loved and ordered a couple of years ago from a dealer in Belgium, but unfortunately never received:



If anyone ever comes across it, please let me know!

 

I have always liked her portraits that were minted during the reign of Antoninius Pius. Faustina Junior Ae Sestertius Rome147-150 BC. Obv bust right draped wearing double band of pearls around head. Rv. Venus standing left. RIC1388 (Pius) 25.00 grms 32 mm photo by W. Hansen What is interesting is that I have one of her portraits on a sestertius struck during the reign of her husband and it is clear that we are looking at the same individual only slightly older. I really like the delicacy of this image how the celator managed to draw the hair with such care and finesse making it extremely detailed but not so "electric" as to overwhelm the face. Thus the image is both charming and gentile

 

Another fine Faustina Friday, RC.

Here are two with what I believe are late-period portraits:


Faustina II Denarius
n.d. (c. 170-175 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed draped bust right / MATRI MAGNAE, Cybele seated left holding branch in right hand, resting left arm on drum; at her side, lion.
RIC 706; BMCRE 134; C192.
(2.44 grams / 17 mm)


Faustina II Denarius
n.d. (c. 161-176 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right / IVNONI REGINAE, Juno
veiled, seated left, holding patera and sceptre; peacock at her feet.
RIC 698; BMCRE 122; RSC 145.
(3.02 grams / 19 mm)

In contrast, here is an early portrait with what I consider the loveliest die-work in my small Faustina II collection (despite the wear). In addition to the portrait, I really like the large, devil-may-care lettering on the reverse:


Faustina II Denarius
(147-149 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right with double circlet of pearls /
LAETITIAE PVBLICAE, Laetitia standing left, holding wreath and sceptre.
RIC 506b; RSC 155a.
(2.95 grams / 18 mm)

 

Excellent thread RC.

@Terence Cheesman I think that there were some superb die engravers working in Rome making bronze for the young Faustina and Marcus Aurelius as Caesar. Some of my favourite portraiture on coinage overall is from this period, and yours is a stunner.

 

Just won this in the recent NN auction so have to use the houses photo as by the time the coin arrives this thread will be quite old! It’s my first Faustina II; the toning caught my eye and I was instantly hooked.



FAUSTINA II (Augusta, 147-175). Denarius. Rome.

Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA.
Draped bust right.
Rev: FECVNDITAS.
Fecunditas standing facing, head right, holding sceptre and infant.

RIC 677 (Aurelius); T&M 176.

Condition: Extremely fine.

Weight: 2.85 g.
Diameter: 20 mm.

 

Congrats on your new addition. Surely a very nice denarius. Has complete legends and great obverse, besides toning.

 

Nice one. Here's a not-so-nice one:



Faustina II Denarius
(145-161 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right / FECVNDITAS, Fecunditas standing right, holding sceptre and child.
RIC 677 (Aurelius); BMCRE 91 (Aurelius); RSC 99.
(3.09 grams / 18 mm)

 

Since others have posted some younger portraits of Faustina II that they like, I'll post a young portrait that I happen to think is quite lovely, even though the coin is more worn than I generally prefer:

Faustina II [Junior] (wife of Marcus Aurelius & daughter of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius, Rome mint, 147-149 AD (under Antoninus Pius). Obv. Draped bust right, single circlet of pearls around head, FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL / Venus standing left, holding apple in right hand and, in left hand, rudder set on dolphin, VENVS. RIC III [Antoninus] 517c, RSC II 266a, BMCRE [Antoninus] 1067. 18 mm., 3.45 g.

 

I guess this is one of my better portraits of Faustina Jr., even though the coin's rough surfaces, uneven strike, patina break on the reverse and a worn reverse die do detract to a certain extent. This coin, posted before, came out of a group lot of 3 sestertii, and if I recall correctly, cost around $25, so I can't complain about that.

Rome, 161-176 AD
Sestertius
Faustina II
Rome
Obverse: FAVSTINA AVGTSTA, Faustina II facing right draped, two pearls, hair elaborately waved in nearly vertical lines and fastened in a low chignon at back of head.
Reverse: (JV)NO, the goddess Juno, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock, S to her left and C to her right.
RIC 1685 (Marcus Aurelius), Van Meter 40 (Faustina Junior)

20.6 grams

 

A lovely portrait indeed, Donna.
The hairstyle during this time period is very unique as well.

 

Here's another Faustina II sestertius, one that I forgot about though it's been here for a while. I guess my brain is turning into tapioca pudding pretty rapidly.

I don't know if this portrait is fine style or not, but it is a nice rendering.

Roman Empire, 176 AD
AE sestertius
Faustina Minor, Augusta
Rome
Obverse: DIVA FAV-STINA PIA Draped bust of Faustina Minor on the right, with her hair pulled up in a bun.
Reverse: SIDERIBVS RE-CEPTA / S | C, draped Diana standing to the right, holding a lighted torch with both hands.
C.215 var.(10f.), RIC.1715 (S), BMC/RE.1584, MIR.18/64 , RCV.-
EF/VF
Good brown-green patina.

25.54 grams

 

Neither of these are necessarily "fine," but it's all I got folks.