Featured Two new sestertii: Faustina II (variation unlisted in RIC) & Maximinus Thrax

These were not entirely impulse purchases, unlike the two new Provincial coins I recently posted. In a recent thread, I mentioned that I had only two sestertii (one each for Marcus Aurelius and Philip I), and realized that I had purchased both almost a year ago. So I had my eye out for a couple more that looked good but weren't very expensive -- not necessarily so easy to find, I've discovered -- and decided on these, the first of them purchased from our own @Victor_Clark.

Neither is in what I'd call superb condition, but I still like both a lot -- especially the reverse on the first, from Faustina II (both for its "children" theme and its wonderful appearance, as well as the fact that it's unlisted in RIC), and the obverse portrait on the second, which conveys an impression to me of the enormous power and strength of Maximinus I. And his chin!

First: Faustina II, appropriate for a Friday even though I'm not putting it in @Roman Collector's much-anticipated weekly thread. It's amazing in hand; even nicer than the photo.

Faustina II (Junior) (wife of Marcus Aurelius & daughter of Antoninus Pius), AE Sestertius, ca. 161 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Draped bust right, low chignon at back of head, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA / Rev. Felicitas (or Faustina as Fecunditas) standing left, between four girls (two standing at each side), holding two infants in her arms, each with a star over its head, TEMPOR FELIC [-IC almost entirely worn off], S - C across fields. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 1673 (at p. 147), var. [no stars above infants’ heads]; BMCRE MA 949 var [same]; Cohen 222; Dinsdale 006760 & n. 1 [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. 70] (“Minor rev. variation: sometimes each infant held in arms has star above head”). 31 mm., 24 gm. Purchased from Victor’s Imperial Coins, March 2021. Ex. CNG E-Auction 476, 9/09/2020, part of Lot 762; ex. BLS Collection.*



*The four girls standing on either side of Felicitas on the reverse of this type have been identified as Marcus Aurelius’s and Faustina II’s daughters Annia Faustina (a/k/a Faustina III), Lucilla, Fadilla, and Cornificia -- the last of whom was born in 160 AD. The two infants held in her arms have been identified as 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 the royal couple. See Foss, Roman Historical Coins.

This variation of RIC III 1673 (with stars above the two infants’ heads) is unlisted in RIC or BMCRE, and appears to be mentioned only in the footnote to Dinsdale 006760. (RIC III 1677 does have stars above the infants’ heads, but is an as, not a sestertius.) Of the 14 other examples I found on acsearch of RIC 1673 and 1674 (the same design as 1673, but with a diadem on Faustina’s head; see Sear RCV II 5284), only one other example (an RIC 1673) has the stars above the infants’ heads. See https://www.acsearch.info/image.html?id=6215913 (Numismatik Naumann, Auction 80, Lot 568, 4 Aug 2019). As you can see, that coin was struck from two very different dies from mine, so as uncommon as the variation appears to be, there was definitely more than one die made that shows it:



I have no idea what, if anything, the stars on this variation are supposed to signify, unless it has something to do with one of the infant twins being the heir to the throne. Any ideas?

Also, just how common is it for a variation like this one not to be listed in RIC? Of course, Vol. III of RIC was published back in 1930, so I imagine that there must have been quite a few coins from the Antoninus Pius through Commodus reigns that have turned up for the first time since then.

Finally, my new Faustina II coin provides conclusive evidence that in Roman numismatics, 676 + 712 = 1673:

Faustina II, AR Denarius, Rome Mint, Dec.160 AD, RIC III [Marcus Aurelius] 676, with reverse legend FECVND AVGVSTAE, showing Annia Faustina, Lucilla, Fadilla, and Cornificia, apparently struck to celebrate the birth of Cornificia, the then-youngest child, in August 160 AD:



+

Faustina II , AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 161 AD, RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 712, with reverse legend SAECVLI FELICIT, showing the twins Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus and Commodus, issued to celebrate their birth on 31 Aug 161 AD:



= my coin, RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 1673 var., showing all six children.

One other minor question. For the first denarius above, showing a reverse figure with four children, there appears to be no question that the figure is Faustina as Fecunditas, presumably because of the reverse legend FECVND AVGVSTAE. For my new sestertius, showing a reverse figure with six children, there's a question about whether the figure is also Faustina as Fecunditas, or, instead, is intended to be Felicitas, presumably because of the different reverse legend TEMPOR FELIC. Even though the celebratory figure on both coins is essentially the same except for the number of children. Would the personification on reverses like this always have been intended and seen to embody the reverse legend? Or did nobody really pay attention back then to the difference, with the celebration of royal children the point rather than the specific identity of the personification? After all, the reverse figure seems to have the same kind of chignon at the back of her head on all these coins that Faustina has on the obverses.

Second:

Maximinus I Thrax, AE Sestertius, 236-238 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM / Rev. Salus seated left, holding patera with outstretched right hand and using it to feed a serpent rising from an altar; resting left arm on side of chair, SALVS AVGVSTI; S C in exergue. RIC IV 85, BMCRE 175-176, Cohen 92, Sear RCV III 8338 (ill.). 31 mm., 17.58 g., 12 h.



As I mentioned above, I love the obverse for the impression it gives of Maximinus's size and power. The reverse is in OK condition -- I like the serpent! -- but the images of Salus, and the throne on which she sits, concern me a bit: the horizontal ridges on the surface look like the imprint of the bottom of someone's shoe on wet concrete. Odd, given that none of the other examples of this type I've looked at show anything like this. I purchased the coin from London Ancient Coins, a reputable dealer from whom I've made purchases many times before without an issue. I don't know why anyone would artificially alter a coin to look like that, so I imagine that it's OK; it just seems a little unusual. I'm not as experienced in looking at bronzes as I am with looking at denarii and other silver coins, and there seems to be a higher general likelihood of artificial alterations. So I'm more likely to be unsure.

I now have four sestertii. I will never come close to my 50 Roman Republican denarii for all sorts of reasons, so I don't plan to put the number in the title if I ever buy any more. That would be kind of presumptuous. Unlike with the denarii, for which I believe I started doing that somewhere in the 30s.

Please post your own sestertii or other bronzes of Faustina II or Maximinus Thrax, or anything else that seems relevant to you.

 

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Great stuff as always, @DonnaML.
...I have only one sestertius, a Marcus Aurelius celebrating a victory against Parthia. You can add it to the pile of coins I don't have pics of (sorry...), but between the condition and olive patina, it's been good enough to keep me content with it as a lone representative. ...Then again....

 

Great coins Donna. The 2 children in Faustina arms look like the Dioscuri brothers.
The Salus and snake on the Maximinus look excellent !

Here are mine:

 

A beautiful Faustina II. The Dioscuri brothers; of course! I should have thought of that when I asked about the symbolism of the stars.

 

Great pickups, Donna. I especially like your Faustina Junior sestertius. The reverse has very nice contrast.

Seeing your 4 children reverse denarius reminds me of my attempt to build a mini set of Faustina Junior coins with children. I purchased a sestertius with 4 children, and another As with 2, on vcoins. Both seem to be lost in the mail after nearly 4 months...

Here is my sestertius I had posted before.

 

Sorry to hear that. I hope you've gotten a refund. At least such coins aren't incredibly uncommon, so hopefully you can find replacements without too much difficulty. Meanwhile, I really like your Faustina II sestertius -- a great illustration of the difference between RIC 1673 and 1674 (apart from the stars on my variant of the former).

 

Two very nice coins, Donna! I like the reverse showing Faustina surrounded by her children. Concerning the star variant, my first association has been Castor and Pollux, too.

Here is my favorite Faustina II sestertius. It is not a high grade coin, but the portrait style in my eyes is fantastic:

Faustina II, Roman Empire, sestertius, ca. 161–164 AD, Rome mint. Obv: [F]AVSTINA AVGV[STA], bust of Faustina II, draped, r. Rev: IV[NONI] REGINAE; Iuno standing l. with patera and sceptre, peacock at feet l.; in fields, S-C.. 30mm, 27g. Ref: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1651.

 

I have only two sestertii of Faustina Junior.
Faustina II Ae sestertius 161-176 AD Rome RIC 1635 Obv. Bust right diademed and draped. Rv. Fecunditas standing left flanked by two girls and cradling two infants in her arms. 23.75 grms 30 mm Photo by W. Hansen There is quite a divergence in the imagery of Faustina II. I believe judging by the hair style that this is a fairly early image of Faustina which was minted during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. My other sestertius is one minted while her husband was still heir presumptive. However despite being minted some years apart and the dies created by different artists, both images do have many points of commonality and it is clear that the same individual is being depicted. I find the reverse of this coin to be quite charming with a mother figure surrounded by a number of her children.

 

That really is a beautiful portrait. So expressive.

 

Nice ones, Donna.

The two stars variety is interesting. So I immediately checked mine, of course. No stars, but here is RIC 1673 and RIC 1674, four children types, one without and one with the stephane, resulting in sequential RIC numbers, but a "var." for Sear:


Faustina II the Younger
Æ Sestertius
Rome Mint
(161-175 A.D.)
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed & draped bust right / TEMPOR FELIC S-C,
Faustina standing, holding two infants, four children at feet.
RIC 1673; Sear 5284 (var)
(21.56 grams / 30 mm)

Faustina II the Younger
Æ Sestertius
Rome Mint
(161-175 A.D.)
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right with stephane / TEMPOR FELIC S-C, Faustina standing, holding two infants, four children at feet.
RIC 1674; Sear 5284.
(22.81 grams / 32 mm)

 

You definitely should get more Sestertii, Donna!


FAVSTINA AVGVSTA - bust of Faustina minor right, wearing paludamentum, hair in Chignon adorned with pearls
FECVND AVGVSTAE, S-C across fields - Fecunditas holding child on each arm, two more children standing right and left, steadying themselves at her tunic
Sestertius, Rome AD 160-161.
32mm / 25.15 gr
RIC 1635, BMCRE 902, Cohen 96, MIR 10, Sear 5273, Banti 56


MAXIMINVS PIVS AVG GERM - laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Maximinus right
VICTORIA GERMANICA S C - Maximinus, in military attire, standing left, his right hand raised, holding spear in left, German captive seated left at his feet, looking back, emperor crowned by Victory standing left behind him, also holding palm.
Sestertius, Rome ca. September-December 236
32,34 mm / 21,64 gr
RIC VI 93; BMCRE 198 and pl. 40; Cohen 114; MIR 26-5; Sear 8342; Banti 33

 

The baby Dioscuri stars are very cool, I've never noticed that variation! And the Max Thrax portrait is exceptional. 5 star chin, for sure! By comparison he is a chinless wonder on my As of the type:


(Note the typo on the reverse: AVGVSIT.)

My only Faustina bronze is this provincial. Obviously the portrait is nothing to write home about, I bought it for the Apollo on the reverse:

Thrace: Plotinopolis.
Faustina II (138 - 180). 23mm (7.70g). Obv .: ΦΑΥΣΤΕΙΝΑ - ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ, draped bust to the right. Back: ΠΛΩΤΕΙΝΟ-ΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ, naked Apollo in profile to the right, contrapposto pose; drapery over his shoulder, holding an olive branch in his right hand over a small round altar.

 

Those are two very nice sestertii, Donna.

I especially like the reverse of the Faustina coin.

I have a similar example, but it is in pretty sad shape, coming out of a group lot:

 

That's a real beefcake shot of Apollo! Fit for the centerfold in the Olympus Monthly.

 

My Faustina sestertius came originally out of a CNG group lot with 14 coins in it. It seems to me they could have done well selling it individually, especially if they'd pointed out the unlisted variation. Perhaps because it's only "Good Fine," it wasn't considered worthy of individual sale!

 

That's a fantastic coin to get out of a group lot.

Sometimes, happiness comes with large numbers. Group lots can have some really wonderful coins.

 

They may not have noticed it.

 

If @Victor_Clark, from whom I bought the coin, was the purchaser of the group lot at the CNG auction, I think he made a good deal, even though I don't know what else was in the lot. I agree with Victor that CNG may not have noticed that my sestertius is a rare, unlisted variation, since the CNG ticket makes no mention of the stars, even though the ticket that I presume came from the BLS Collection (Victor sent me both tickets along with the coin) does mention them.

 

Donna, I like the sestertius of Maximinus I, despite the odd looking parallel lines on the reverse. His portrait looks as brutal as everything that's been written about him . Pictured below is a coin I've posted before, but it seems like a good time to post it for this thread too. Fortunately his son didn't inherit the old mans looks .

Maximus as Caesar, AD 236-238 (struck 236-237), AE Sestertius: 26.39 gm, 31 mm, 12 h. RIC IV 13. CNG 70, lot 1044, September 21, 2005.

 

Thanks. Yes, that's why the coin appealed to me in particular, out of all the many available Maximinus sestertii I looked at. His son was lucky indeed not to look like him, although I seem to remember that there are some coins of Maximus that make him look like a junior version of his father. Just as there are coins of Paulina that make her look like a female version of her husband!