Consolation prizes - or the first and last edition of Faustina Sunday

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by ambr0zie, Feb 13, 2022.

  1. ambr0zie

    ambr0zie Dacian Taraboste

    Hope @Roman Collector will not get mad on me for a Faustina ... Sunday.
    In the last Savoca auction I had a few targets. Most of them were missed. Either I was too optimistic (not usually the case when it comes to auctions) or the prices went really insane.
    Yesterday I had a pleasant surprise, getting a coin I was not optimistic about - as the price I was willing to pay seemed small. Actually it was more than enough.
    Today, day 2 - my main target and a coin I was waiting with high hopes. Especially since it was sold 2 weeks ago (I didn't participate in that auction), the winner probably didn't pay it, I would have been happy with that price, I was prepared to pay even more ... and the hammer price was 50% more than 2 weeks ago.
    clap-clapping.gif
    Others had similar situations and on a few coins the price was too rich for me even in prebid stage.

    So I decided to stalk the auction and see what interesting coins go under the radar.
    Turned out to be a Faustina II Sunday.
    I am not an expert in Faustina II coins (had 2 denarii and 2 provincials until today) but I find her portraits really pleasant + a variety of reverses.
    Always admired her coins showing children, especially the pulvinar coins (managed to lose two of them today due to a bad strategy) but stole this one, I find it very satisfying.

    upload_2022-2-13_23-52-18.png
    A little chipped and slightly rugged, but Faustina's portrait and the beautiful reverse made me very happy for spotting it and winning it.
    I will use @DonnaML's description from here (hope you will not mind, Donna) as I think this is the most complete description for this coin

    Faustina II AD 147-175. Rome
    Denarius AR
    AD 160
    17 mm, 3,16 g
    FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right, hair in chignon behind / FECVND AVGVSTAE, 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
    RIC III Marcus Aurelius 676, RSC II 95, Sear RCV II 5251, BMCRE 89
    From the same thread I found out that the 4 children on the reverse are Annia Faustina, Lucilla, Fadilla and Cornificia.

    After getting this, I managed to steal a coin honoring Faustina II after her death.

    upload_2022-2-13_23-58-1.png
    Diva Faustina II after AD 175-176. Rome
    Denarius AR
    18 mm, 2,71 g
    176-180
    DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, Bust of Diva Faustina II, hair waved and fastened in a bun on back of head, draped, right / CONSECRATIO, Rectangular altar, with horns at left and right, and door on front (sometimes decorated with palms)
    RIC III Marcus Aurelius 746; RSC 75

    I like Consecratio coins, even if they are sad in concept. Having 2 from Faustina I demanded one from Faustina II. And on this one I especially like the Faustina's majestic portrait, a true sign of the great honor of her memory.

    My last consolation prize was a denarius from Maximinus Thrax, I will post it in the near future. Not pristine condition, but not bad at all and ticked a box I tried to fulfill for a few months - a coin that shows his acromegaly.
    These 3 denarii costed less (much less) than the hammer price for my lost main target, and to be perfectly honest, I am happier this way, since that one was not rare or in a fantastic condition, but somebody wanted it badly.

    Again, with @Roman Collector's permission for luring into his territory, please post
    - newly acquired Faustina II coins
    - coins with children
    - coins honoring a deceased person
    - "consolation prizes" - after you missed your main targets in an auction, you reoriented and got others that made you quite content.
     
    Ancient Aussie, PeteB, Bing and 7 others like this.
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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    That's wonderful!!! The more Faustina Fans, the better!

    Here are my examples of your coins.

    Faustina Jr FECVND AVGVSTAE denarius 1.jpg
    Faustina Jr CONSECRATIO altar denarius.jpg
     
    ambr0zie, DonnaML, PeteB and 3 others like this.
  4. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Nice pickups, @ambr0zie - here's my scruffy 4 kids denarius, RIC 676:

    Faustina II - Den. Fecunditas children RIC 676 June 2015 (0).jpg

    Here's just one kid - RIC 677, I think. Legend is split on this one, unlike the continuous legend above:

    Faustina II FECVNDITAS den Jun 2019 (0).jpg 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)
    eBay June 2019
     
  5. Edessa

    Edessa Well-Known Member

    Faustina Junior. Augusta, AD 147-175. AR Denarius (17mm, 3.7g). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 154-157. Draped bust right / Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; at feet to left, peacock standing left. RIC III 688 (Aurelius); RSC 120.

    RomImp_FaustinaJr_ARDen_RIC688_Rome_Juno_Lanz0109.jpg
     
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