Faustina Friday – IVNONI REGINAE: for Juno the Queen

TGIFF, everyone!!

Today we're going to discuss some coins I haven't discussed in detail before. In fact, these coins are so pedestrian that, except for the sestertius, I haven't even posted them here at CT before. It's not that they're unremarkable – this whole thread consists of remarks about them – but that they're of the "deity just standing or sitting there" sort. I hope you find them to be worthy of discussion in any case. So, let's get on with it.



Those with more than a passing interest in the coinage of Faustina the Younger are doubtlessly familiar with coins issued for the empress that depict Juno, the sister and consort of Jupiter. She is the Roman equivalent of the Greek Hera. Juno has many guises and epithets: Juno Moneta, Juno Lucina, Juno Caprotina, Juno Sospita, Juno Conservatrix, Juno Victrix, Juno Martialis, and so on. The epithet Regina means queen, and the dative case inscription is well translated as "for/to Juno the Queen."

As queen of the gods, Juno Regina is depicted either enthroned or standing, and invariably holds the hasta pura, the scepter symbolizing her regal authority. In addition, she typically holds a patera and is frequently accompanied by her sacred bird, the peacock. Such is the case on the coins of Faustina II bearing the reverse inscription IVNONI REGINAE.[1] The IVNO REGINAE coins depicting the goddess standing were issued in the denarius, sestertius, and middle bronze denominations. The coinage depicting the goddess enthroned was limited to the denarius denomination.

On all these issues, Faustina may be bare-headed or, more commonly, she may wear a stephane or one or two bands of pearls in her hair. Overall, the coins of Faustina with IVNONI REGINAE reverse types are quite commonly encountered in hoards[2] and in the numismatic trade. The sheer number of these coins and the variety of bust types that appear on them suggests they were issued in large quantities over a period of at least two or three years. Dating them, however, is problematic, because no aurei depicting Juno Regina were issued for Faustina the Younger and they fall outside of the purview of Beckmann's die-linkage study of her aurei. Here are some coins in my collection illustrating the various varieties and denominations of this reverse type.

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.11 g, 17.1 mm, 11 h.
Rome, c. AD 162-164.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right (Beckmann type 5 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 694; BMCRE 118 n.; Cohen 141; RCV 5256; MIR 19-4/10a,b; CRE 194.
Notes: ex @Victor_Clark. Also known with a bare-headed bust and Beckmann type 8 hairstyle (ANS 1944.100.49232).​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.22 g, 17.4 mm, 11 h.
Rome, c. AD 162-164.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right; double circlet of pearls around head (Beckmann type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 696; BMCRE 118-120.; RSC 139a; RCV 5256; MIR 19-4/10a,b; CRE 192.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.26 g, 17.1 mm, 11 h.
Rome, c. AD 162-164.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, wearing stephane (Beckmann type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 695; BMCRE 121.; Cohen 140; RCV 5256 var.; MIR 19-4/10b diad.; CRE 193.
Notes: Double die match to Llíria Hoard 39725, Museu de Prehistòria de València.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman Æ sestertius, 24.02 g, 29.5 mm, 11 h.
Rome, c. AD 162-164.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right; double circlet of pearls around head (Beckmann type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 1651; BMCRE 919-921; Cohen 142; RCV 5278; MIR 19.
Notes: Ex Christian Blom. Also known with bare-headed bust and Beckmann hairstyle 8 (Savoca Numismatik, Auction 7, lot 497, 28 Feb. 2016) and with stephane (BMC 922).​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman Æ as or dupondius, 11.89 g, 25 mm.
Rome, c. AD 162-164.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right; double circlet of pearls around head (Beckmann type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 1652; BMCRE 985-986; Cohen 143; RCV 5299; MIR 19-7/10b.
Notes: Also known with bare-headed bust and Beckmann hairstyle 8 (Münzkabinett des Martin von Wagner Museums - Julius Maximilians Universität, Würzburg, Ka 1463)[3] and with stephane (Bertolami Fine Arts E-Auction 59, lot 746, 20 April 2018).​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 2.88 g, 17.5 mm, 6 h.
Rome, c. AD 164 or 165?
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, with single strand of pearls (Beckmann type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno seated left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 697; BMCRE 123; RSC 144a; RCV --; MIR 20-4/10b; CRE 185.
Notes: Obverse die match to BMCRE 123. Also known with bare-headed bust and Beckmann hairstyle 9 (BMCRE 124) and wearing a stephane.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.10 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h.
Rome, c. AD 164 or 165?
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, wearing stephane (Beckmann type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno seated left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 698; BMCRE 122; Cohen 145; RCV 5257; MIR 20-4/10b diad.; CRE 186.
Notes: Also known with bare-headed bust and Beckmann hairstyle 9 (BMCRE 124) and with a single strand of pearls (BMCRE 123).​

Dating the issues

I think we are on safe ground when assigning a relative chronology between the Juno standing version and the Juno seated version of the coin: the Juno standing version was issued earlier. The Juno standing version is not known with Beckmann type 9 hairstyle, but is known with the earlier type 5 hairstyle, whereas the Juno seated version is not known with the earlier type 5 hairstyle but is known with the later type 9 hairstyle. Both the standing and seated versions commonly appear with the Beckmann type 7 hairstyle and are both known with the type 8 hairstyle (which is very uncommon). The type 7 and 8 hairstyles were used concurrently.[4] This overlap in portrait style suggests the Juno seated version followed quickly after the Juno standing version. The seated version appears only on the denarius version of the type and is less common than the standing version, suggesting it was in production for a shorter period.

Establishing an absolute chronology is more difficult. Although examples of the denarius with the type 5 hairstyle are known for the Juno standing version of the coin, they are rare.[5] The vast majority of specimens of the Juno standing version in any denomination depict the empress with the Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, whether wearing pearls or a stephane. The type 7 hairstyle first makes an appearance on the aurei of Faustina II well into the SALVTI AVGVSTI sequence that first began following the birth of Commodus in late August, AD 161 and shortly before the appearance of the LAETITIA and VENVS GENETRIX reverse types to commemorate the birth of Marcus Annius Verus in late AD 162.[6] Note also that the obverse legend used on the IVNONI REGINAE is not of the "all round" style, which was in use on coins of Faustina I from December AD 160 through at least the later months of AD 161, when it appears on the SALVTI AVGVSTAE aurei after the birth of Commodus and his twin brother. With only a few exceptions, Faustina's coins with the "all round" legends depict the empress with her type 5 hairstyle. In contrast, the denari of the FECVNDITAS reverse type and the LAETITIA and VENVS GENETRIX types in gold and silver depict the empress in her type 7 hairstyle and do not have an all-round legend. These were issued in late AD 162. The lack of an all-round legend and the use of the type 7 hairstyle imply a date for the IVNONI REGINAE with Juno standing type of AD 162 at the earliest. The abundance of the issue suggests it was in production for at least a year or two. Therefore, I assign the issue a date of AD 162-164. The use of a rare die to produce a denarius with the type 5 hairstyle does not demonstrate a date before AD 162, for earlier dies with anachronistic hairstyles were occasionally used alongside later dies with later hairstyles. Beckmann, for example, notes the reappearance of a type 5 portrait on a Laetitia reverse type issued in late AD 162.[7]

As noted above, the IVNO REGINAE denarii with the Juno seated type likely appeared shortly after the Juno standing type. Szaivert assigns the issue to what he terms "Phase 3," dating to AD 165 or shortly thereafter,[8] but elsewhere, he suggests it may coincide with Lucilla's marriage to Lucius Verus in AD 164.[9] This is consistent with Beckmann's dating of the type 9 hairstyle, which appears at the very end of his die-linkage chain 7.[10] Because the Juno seated version of the coin typically has the type 7 hairstyle, but is known with the type 9 hairstyle, a date of AD 164 or 165 seems reasonable and also in accordance with Szaivert's dating of the issue.

The purpose of the issue

The issue does not appear to have been issued to commemorate any specific event in the life of Faustina the Younger; rather, it appears to be what is termed an allegorical type. As with the Juno Regina issues of her mother,[11] the Juno Regina issues of Faustina the Younger imply that the empress is queen on earth, just as Juno is queen of the gods.[12]

Let's see your coins of Juno Regina, Faustina Jr, or whatever you feel is relevant!

~~~

Notes

1. The middle bronze purportedly bearing the inscription IVNO REGINA cited by Cohen (no. 130) is doubtful and a comprehensive search of internet databases is unable to confirm its existence. Paul Dinsdale notes the coin is "probably a worn or damaged specimen of IVNONI REGINAE." Dinsdale, Paul H. The Imperial Coinage of the Middle Antonines: Marcus Aurelius with Lucius Verus and Commodus. Leeds, Paul H Dinsdale, 2020, p. 67 n. 10.

2. In the Reka Devnia hoard, Faustina's IVNONI REGINAE types (mostly the standing variety) were the second most represented denarius on Faustina's coinage under Marcus Aurelius (196 specimens), accounting for 15 percent of all denarii issued under Marcus Aurelius – not just for Faustina, but for Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus and Commodus put together. Beckmann, Martin, Faustina the Younger: Coinage, Portraits, and Public Image, A.N.S. Numismatic Studies 43, American Numismatic Society, New York, 2021, p. 117.

3. Szaivert (MIR) cites an unspecified coin from A.N.S. as an example of a bare-headed bust – an error; all four specimens there show Beckmann's hairstyle 7 with a double circlet of pearls. Szaivert, Wolfgang, Die Münzprägung der Kaiser Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus und Commodus (161/192), Moneta Imperii Romani 18. Vienna, 1989, no. 19-7(a), p. 284.

4. Beckmann, Martin, Faustina the Younger: Coinage, Portraits, and Public Image, A.N.S. Numismatic Studies 43, American Numismatic Society, New York, 2021, p. 90.

5. Temeryazev and Makarenk assign it a rarity rating of R, corresponding to 25-49 specimens known. Temeryazev, S. A., and T. P. Makarenko. The Coinage of Roman Empresses. San Bernardino, CreateSpace, 2017, no. 194, p. 67.

6. Beckmann, op. cit., p. 60.

7. Ibid.

8. Szaivert, op. cit., p. 230. Szaivert notes that the end of phase 3 is currently uncertain and suggests a possible break in the issuing of coins for Faustina, perhaps of several years, between phases 3 and 4 (p. 231).

9. Ibid., p. 231. Specifically, Szaivert writes, "Die vielgestaltige Venus-Prägung erlaubt einen Bezug zur Hochzeit der Tochter der Faustina (Lucilla) mit dem regierenden zweiten Augustus Lucius Verus anzunehmen."

10. Beckmann, op. cit., p. 60.

11. Mattingly, Harold. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian, British Museum, 1966, p. lii.

12. Ibid., p. cxxxi.

 

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As collectors of Roman coins, we should be grateful for the variety of "standing types" available to us. When did they become boring? Collectors of Chinese or Islamic, for instance, are predominantly concerned with subtle variations of script. And let's not forget US collectors, where a microscopic doubled-die shadow constitutes a major variety. Give me a tray of Roman gods and goddesses just standing around any day.

 

As usually, good write-up and documentation.
My first Faustina II Denarius is a IVNONI REGINAE.

Faustina II AD 147-175. From the Tareq Hani collection. Rome
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

I have a similar reverse on my only Salonina coin




Salonina AD 254-268. From the Tareq Hani collection. Antioch
Billon Antoninianus
20 mm, 3,74 g
RIC V Salonina (2) 92
Date Range: AD 260 - AD 268
Obverse Legend: SALONINA AVG
Type: Bust of Salonina, diademed, draped, right, on crescent
Reverse Legend: IVNO REGINA
Type: Juno, draped, standing left, holding patera in right hand and sceptre in left hand; at her feet, peacock

... and the legend becomes even shorter on this Crispina



Crispina. Augusta AD 178-191. Rome
Denarius AR
16 mm, 3,17 g
RIC III Commodus 283
Date Range: AD 178 - AD 191
Obverse Legend: CRISPINA AVGVSTA
Type: Bust of Crispina, draped, hair in round coil at back, right
Reverse Legend: IVNO
Type: Juno, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand; at left, peacock


As for the "somebody seated or standing reverse" - agreed, it's difficult to call a Roman coin truly boring.
But in my particular case, as I do not specialize in any ruler/dynasty, I tried to add coins that are as diverse in design as possible. As the main reason for collecting is getting coins that are pleasant for me and as interesting as possible, and of course with budget constrains.
This is just a personal opinion and a specialized collector such as @Roman Collector will disagree ... and I fully agree with that
For example the 3 variations presented - RIC 694, 695 and 696 are interesting for @Roman Collector and of course they are needed when building a Faustina II collection. But for me, as a general collector, I am OK with 696.

 

Nice writeup, here an example from the time of the "Gallienian Renaissance" where this classic was brought back:
Empress Salonina - Antoninianus - IVNO REGINA

 

Thank you for another fine Faustina Friday, @Roman Collector

I've been piggybacking off of your research on these Faustinas and trying to keep my own collection updated. As for today's post, I have two of these.

First, a sestertius of the standing Juno, very worn to the point I cannot see the peacock; the sceptre is clearer in hand than shows in my photo. Perhaps the attribution is not right?:


Faustina II Æ Sestertius
(c. 162-164 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right wearing circlet of pearls / [IVNONI REGINAE] S-C, Juno, veiled, standing left, holding patera & sceptre; peacock at feet.
RIC 1651; Cohen 142.
(25.28 grams / 30 mm)
eBay Nov. 2019

Here is a seated Juno denarius, a bit clearer:


Faustina II Denarius
(c. 164 or 165 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)
eBay Jan. 2021 ABLot

 

I have this Lucilla piece:

(She is seated)

Lucilla Augusta, AD 164-169.

Æ sestertius, 30mm, 24g, 6h. Rome mint.

Obverse: LVCILLA AVG ANTONINI AVG F; Draped bust right.

Reverse: IVNONI LVCINAE; Juno seated left, holding infant and flower // SC

Reference: RIC 1747.

From the Mat Collection.

 

Thank you for your kind words, @Marsyas Mike, and thanks for showing your Faustina coins! I can't get enough of them.

The only figure standing left and holding an object in the right hand and a scepter in the left on the sestertii of Faustina Jr with the FAVSTINA AVGVSTA obverse inscription are Juno and Laetitia. If Juno, it could be either IVNONI LVCINAE S C or IVNO S C, like this one (mine's stephaned):



Here's Laetitia, who holds the top of the scepter further away from her body:



Hope this helps you narrow down the attribution of your sestertius.

 

...ah, i see RC has summoned "Tim' the enchanter.....great Faustina Friday!

 

Thank you for the assist, RC. Here is a photo at a slant, showing the sceptre (at least that is what I think it is). It does seem close to the body, ala Juno. A kind of blob might be the peacock.



An "artistically" enhanced view


Here's the Laetitia I have, better than my Junos, but not by much - the sceptre clearly held further away from her body:


Faustina II Æ Sestertius
(161-176 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[FA]VSTINA AV[GVSTA], draped bust right, double circlet of pearls / L[AETITI]A
S C, Laetitia standing left holding wreath and scepter.
RIC 1654; Sear 5279
(26.54 grams / 31 mm)
eBay Feb. 2018

Thanks again!

 

"There are some who call me....Tim...That's the most foul, cruel, and bad tempered rodent that you've ever set eyes on."

 

haha..great movie... i love Monty Pythons flying circus stuff...

 

Now all you have to do is decide whether it reads IVNONI REGINAE or IVNO.

 

Happy Friday, RC. Thanks for your another nice Faustina Friday article. I only have one with IVNONI REGINAE. Others are IVNO.

IVNONI REGINAE:


IVNO:

 

...'that rabbit's dynamite!"..><...i reckon that will be Friday nights movie ...

 

I do have a plain old IVNO, with a visible peacock (since I never had an excuse to post it before):


Faustina II Æ Sestertius
(c. 161- 176 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, strings of pearls in hair / IV[NO], S-C, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet.
RIC 1645; Cohen 121.
(23.44 grams / 28 x 26 mm)
eBay Sep. 2020

 

@Roman Collector......Great write up as always thanks!...
This reverse seems to be quite common for Sabina..
Sabina AR Denarius 18/19mm..3.21gr
Obverse- SABINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right, hair in queue down neck
Reverse- IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left holding patera and sceptre...RIC 395a, RSC 43

 

My favorite "IVNO REGINA" -- look carefully at the reverse legend ...

Salonina, AD 253-268.
Roman billon antoninianus, 4.64 g, 23.3 mm.
Antioch, AD 264.
Obv: SALONINA AVG, diademed draped bust right on crescent.
Rev: VINO REGINA, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet left; star in left field.
Refs: RIC 92 var.; Cohen 67 var.; RCV 10641 var.; Göbl 1619f var.​

It says VINO REGINA -- "Wine the queen"!!

 

Oh now I must find one

 

Any old excuse to resurrect a Fasutina Friday on a Wednesday - I managed to upgrade my IVNO REGINAE sestertius. My "upgrades" are pretty unspectacular, but the reverse legend and the peacock are now visible, although there is a sort of avocado facial mask thing going on with Faustina's portrait; ancient Roman beauty treatments :


Faustina II Æ Sestertius
(c. 162-164 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right wearing circlet of pearls / IVNONI REGINAE
S-C, Juno, veiled, standing left, holding patera & sceptre; peacock at feet.
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1651
(24.60 grams / 29 mm)
eBay Jan. 2022 Ck
Note: "The lack of an all-round legend and the use of the type 7 hairstyle imply a date for the IVNONI REGINAE with Juno standing type of AD 162 at the earliest.
The abundance of the issue suggests it was in production for at least a year or two. Therefore, I assign the issue a date of AD 162-164." Roman Collector, CT Jan. 2022

Here's my first, (more) worn one posted above - attribution was kind of a guess, since the reverse is so wiped out: