My first Faustina! :)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Gam3rBlake, Oct 6, 2021.

  1. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    I always used to feel kinda bummed out when I’d see the “Faustina Friday” posts because I didn’t have a Faustina. :(

    But now I do! ^_^

    One thing I love about this Faustina denarius is that if you look really closely it also has an Emperor on it!

    Yup that’s little Commodus on the reverse along with his elder brother Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus (who died in 165 AD when Commodus was only 4 years old).

    Imagine how the history of the Roman Empire would’ve changed if Titus Antoninus had survived. Commodus would never have become Emperor and (if he was anything like his father Marcus Aurelius) Rome might not have began its slow steady decline.

    Anyway I just wanted to share because I finally got a Faustina. :)
    3F09CD67-E44E-4CC4-B52A-1408246D3866.jpeg
    D79D4008-B0CC-483D-A89F-2D92935C2958.jpeg
    A1AF062B-66E5-46B4-A15A-2EA233BA81AF.jpeg
    F781758B-64CE-4022-B625-86D292FD849D.jpeg
    Faustina Junior (AD 147-175/6). AR denarius (18mm, 3.29 gm, 7h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 5/5.Rome, AD 147-175. FAVSTINA-AVGVSTA, draped bust of Faustina Junior right, seen from front, wearing stephane, hair brushed in waves and tucked in small chignon at base of head / SAECVLI FELICIT, pulvinar facing with Commodus and Antoninus, as young children, seated facing each other. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 712. Beautifully toned.
    B50318A7-7F1F-4C7B-BA85-25B868C0829D.jpeg

    Share your favorite Faustina or your first Faustina here!
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2021
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  3. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Very nice - I can't think of a better Faustina type to get!

    That exact type was also my first permanent Faustina II for the collection
    Faustina II SAECVLI FELICIT.jpg
     
  4. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    That's fantastic, @Gam3rBlake! That's a fun issue -- and she's wearing a stephane, too!

    I don't know if I could declare which of my Faustina coins is a "favorite"; I love them all! So here's my first, according to its faded and yellowing collector tag with the ID number of "FAUSTSR-1." Astonishingly, the CT search function comes up nothing when I search for it! :wideyed: I have apparently never posted it here before! :wideyed::wideyed:

    Making her CT debut ... let's give a warm welcome to FAUSTSR-1, RC's first of Faustina the First!

    Faustina Sr AVGVSTA Ceres long torch and holding skirt denarius.jpg
    Faustina I, AD 138-140.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.17 g, 18.2 mm, 5 h.
    Rome, AD 145-147.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: AVGVSTA, Ceres standing facing, head left, holding long torch and holding up fold of skirt.
    Refs: RIC 362; BMCRE 421-427; Cohen 104; Strack 468; RCV 4584; CRE 85.

    And here's FAUSTJR-1, the first coin of Faustina the Younger I acquired for my collection. I've posted this one before.

    [​IMG]
    Faustina Jr, AD 147-175.
    Roman AR denarius, 2.97 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h.
    Rome, c. Autumn-late AD 151.
    Obv: FAVSTINA AVG AN-TONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: CONCORDIA standing facing, head right, gathering up skirt and holding cornucopiae.
    Refs: RIC 500b(6); BMCRE 1078-79; Cohen 44, CRE 163.
    Notes: RIC erroneously describes the obverse legend as reading FAVSTINAE AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL; this is corrected by BMCRE 4.
     
  5. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    My favorite Faustina II is this Alexandrian tetradrachm when she was 'first daughter'. It is dated year 12 of Antoninus Pius with Dikaiosyne on the reverse. This was the first year for her coinage. Conveniently for collectors Faustina has tetradrachms dated years 12 through 21 under her father's regnal numbers and, later, 4 through 10 under her husband's so we do not have overlap.
    pa0300fd2085.jpg
     
  6. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Thanks! Yours look awesome too!

    I’ll admit I paid more than I was comfortable paying for it but at the same time I wanted one with this reverse design and in AU or better condition.

    Overall though I’m glad I got it even with the high price. XD
     
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  7. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    A wonderful example of one of my own favorite types, @Gam3rBlake! I particularly like her coins showing children.

    Here are some Faustina II's I'm fond of, including that one:

    1. Faustina II with one child (Marcus Annius Verus):

    Faustina II (wife of Marcus Aurelius & daughter of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius, ca. 162/163 AD, Rome Mint. Obv. draped bust right with hair in chignon behind, wearing double strand of pearls, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA ./ Rev. Fecunditas (or Faustina as Fecunditas) standing facing, head right, holding long scepter in right hand and, with left hand and arm, infant with its arms raised towards its mother (representing Marcus Annius Verus, b. ca. 162 AD*), FECVNDITAS. RIC III MA 677, RSC II Faustina II 99c (Faustina with double strand of pearls)**, Sear RCV II 5252, BMCRE Marcus Aurelius 92 (var. with Faustina wearing single strand of pearls***). 18.46 mm., 3.54 g.

    [​IMG]

    *See Dinsdale Ch. 4 p. 51 & 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. 51] ("This issue refers to the birth of M. Annius Verus in 162"). See also https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Marcus_Annius_Verus_Caesar : “Marcus Annius Verus Caesar (born 162 or 163 – 10 September 169) was the 12th of 13 children of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Empress Faustina the Younger. Annius was made caesar on 12 October 166 AD [after the death in 165 of Commodus's twin Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus], alongside his brother Commodus, designating them co-heirs of the Roman Empire. Annius died on 10 September 169, at age seven, due to complications from a surgery to remove a tumor from under his ear. His death left Commodus as the sole heir. . . . He was given the name of Marcus Annius Verus because it was the original name of his father, Marcus Aurelius” -- as well as his grandfather and great-grandfather.

    ** The fourth of four listed varieties, along with Faustina II bareheaded, with a single strand of pearls, and with a stephane. (See RSC II at p. 223.)

    *** The British Museum, at least as of the date of BMCRE, does not appear to have an example of the variety with Faustina II wearing a double strand of pearls.

    2. My example of your coin, showing Faustina II with two children (Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus and Commodus):

    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.]

    [​IMG]

    3. Faustina II with four children (Annia Faustina [a/k/a Faustina III], Lucilla, Fadilla. and Cornificia):

    Faustina II [Junior) (wife of Marcus Aurelius & daughter of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius, Rome Mint, Dec.160 AD. Obv. Draped bust right, hair in chignon behind, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA / Rev. Faustina as Fecunditas, standing front, head left, holding infant in each arm, two other young children standing beside her to left and right, holding onto her gown; FECVND AVGVSTAE. RIC III [Marcus Aurelius] 676, RSC II 95, Sear RCV II 5251, BMCRE 89, Dinsdale 005120 [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. 54; photo at p. 60]. 17.0 mm., 3.29 g.*

    [​IMG]

    *See Foss, Roman Historical Coins, page 143, identifying the two standing children depicted on this coin as Annia Faustina [a/k/a Faustina III] (oldest child) and Lucilla (third oldest child), and identifying the two infants in Faustina’s arms as Fadilla (seventh child) and Cornificia (eighth child). The coin was probably issued to celebrate the birth of Cornificia, the then-youngest child, in August 160 AD.

    4. Faustina II with six children (Annia Faustina [a/k/a Faustina III], Lucilla, Fadilla, Cornificia, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus, and Commodus):

    Faustina II (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 (representing the Dioscuri), TEMPOR FELIC [-IC almost entirely worn off], S - C across fields. RIC III 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.*

    [​IMG]
    *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 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 (of 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).

    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.

    5. A young Faustina II with no children:

    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.
    [​IMG]

    6. A deceased Faustina II:

    Diva Faustina II [Junior] (wife of Marcus Aurelius & daughter of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius, after 175 AD, Rome mint. Obv. Draped bust right, DIVA FAV-STINA PIA / Rev. peacock standing right, CONSECRATIO. RIC III 744, RSC II 71. 19.18 mm., 3.23 g.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    A great example, but why does Faustina look so angry? Very different from her calm expressions on mine and @Gam3rBlake's. Commodus must have been trying to murder his twin brother again right before she sat for the picture.
     
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  9. Herodotus

    Herodotus Well-Known Member

    Heh, she looks pretty vexed in that portrait.

    Noice!
     
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  10. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    When I got that coin my daughters were about 3 and 18 months- I have distinct memories of attempting to potty train one while the other tried to steal candy from the kitchen...

    Maybe I just felt her expression on a deeply personal level? ;)
     
  11. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    I just found this picture of a sestertius of Faustina and it looks like it’s the exact same image as on my denarius.

    Was that common to use the same image on different coin denominations?

    4EC0F415-1903-4732-9E67-A1AE8689DDAB.jpeg
     
  12. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    Nice pickup, @Gam3rBlake.
    I like your coin's well-centered Faustina II portrait, and with great details. :)

    Here is a similar one in my collection.
    =Faustina Jr 2 kids.jpg

    Below are my very first Faustina purchases. I had no idea who Faustina Senior and Junior were when I purchased these 2.

    Faustina Senior denarius:
    =R11.jpg

    Faustina Junior AE As:
    =FaustinaAEAs.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2021
  13. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Nice! That middle one looks almost like a proof. xD
     
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  14. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    Thanks! I really like this specific coin's portrait. Quite attractive in hand. :)
     
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  15. DonnaML

    DonnaML Well-Known Member

    It's similar, but not exactly the same. You can't strike a denarius and sestertius from the same die.
     
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  16. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Well I just meant the design itself not the same dies. I’m wondering if the dies made for the denarius and sestertius were both made from the same original design.
     
  17. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    My first Faustina II was a provincial

    upload_2021-10-7_9-52-20.png

    Thrace, Hadrianopolis
    21 m 6.6 g
    ΦΑVϹΤΕΙΝΑ ϹΕΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina II, r. / ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΠΟΛΕΙΤΩ(Ν), Tyche standing, l., wearing kalathos, holding rudder and cornucopia
    RPC IV.1, 3917 (temporary), Jurukova 68, 72, and 74, BMC 7

    My first denarius

    upload_2021-10-7_9-53-56.png


    Faustina II AD 147-175. From the Tareq Hani collection.
    Denarius AR
    18 mm., 3,34 g.
    RIC III Marcus Aurelius 696; RSC 139a
    Date Range: AD 161 - AD 176
    Obverse Legend: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA
    Type: Bust of Faustina II, wearing circlet of pearls, hair waved and fastened in a bun on back of head, draped, right
    Reverse Legend: IVNONI REGINAE
    Type: Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand; at left, peacock

    Here is an even younger Faustina the Younger, another example shown before by @DonnaML
    upload_2021-10-7_9-56-23.png

    Faustina II AD 147-175. Rome
    Denarius AR
    18 mm, 2,81 g
    RIC III Antoninus Pius 517C
    BMCRE 1067; Cohen —; Strack 495
    Date Range: AD 147-149
    Obverse Legend: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL
    Type: Bust of Faustina the Younger, band of pearls round head, with hair waived and coiled on back of head, draped, right
    Portrait: Faustina the Younger
    Reverse Legend: VENVS
    Type: Venus, draped, standing left, holding apple in right hand and rudder set on dolphin, in left
     
  18. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Wow a tetradrachm!! I love tetradrachms because they’re hefty coins and feel like a significant amount of money (which I’m sure they were at the time).

    The only downside about the denarius is that they are so small and don’t have much room for the designs.
     
  19. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    In the Antonine period, some reverse types were issued in all metals, but many reverse types were not. The SAECVLI FELICIT issue was issued in all metals, whereas the SALVTI AVGVSTAE seated type was not produced in silver, for example and the FECVNDITAS type was not issued in gold.

    Faustina Jr Sestertius As and Denarius.jpg
     
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  20. Gam3rBlake

    Gam3rBlake Well-Known Member

    Ahh ok I get what you mean. Thanks! :)
     
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  21. robinjojo

    robinjojo Well-Known Member

    That is a really nice denarius, Gam3rBlake, and it is the perfect type coin to own, including, as you mentioned, Faustina Junior and her son Commodus, along with his twin brother, a coin with a historical and fateful theme.

    I do not have a denarius of this type. I do have the sestertius commemorating the birth of the twins, from 161 AD, RIC 1665, 20.98 grams:

    D-Camera Faustina II sestertius 161AD birth Commodus, twin brother 20.98g RIC 1665 8-21-21.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2021
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