I recently bought this low grade Faustina Sr. Bronze for a very low price from a well known seller. My questions are, first off, it was sold as the reverse being Aeternitas seated with the legend: AETERNITAS and SC below as usual. I was just wondering if this is a correct attribution, the reverse to me looks like someone else, and I can't read the title so I can't tell.... I am not too good with the different varieties of coins of Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius and their spouses. Also, this coin weighs 11.0 grams, it was sold as being a Dupondius, can anyone tell, either by looking or by the weight whether this is an As or a Dupondius, I know the weight varies with them all, and that with Faustina there is no giveaway (like the radiate crown on dupondii of emperors) to tell which denomination it is..... any help on who/what is on the reverse and the denomination would be helpful... also any info on when it was struck, I know it is a posthumous issue, but aside from that I haven't a clue as to when it was struck... Make sure to fully enlarge the photo to check it out.... it's quite large.
The AETERNITAS type exists for Faustina as Sestertius, As or Dupondius, according to my catalogue. This type seems to have been struck after 146 A.D (she died in 141). I did a quick search and found no Dupondii listed as sold with the type, but a few Asses (and many sestertii) weighing between 11-13 grams. So odds are it is an As, although judging by the color of your coin it may seem to be a dupondius due to the yellowish tinge typical of bronze.
I think I found it, This one is listed as an As though, so I don't know... but at 11 grams the coin I have could be either a heavy As or a Dupondius I suppose: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s4639.html#RIC_1159 ------------------------- Faustina I AE As. obv: DIVA FAVSTINA - draped bust right rev: AETERNITAS - Aeternitas seated left on starry globe, right hand outstretched, left hand holding sceptre. SC in exergue. Cohen 22. -------------------------- Definitely looks like Aeternitas is seated on a globe... I don't see the 'starry' part, but it is quite worn, and the outstretched right hand does look empty.... so I think this is it... must be a heavy As, or unlisted Dupondius.... I can't tell by the coloration of the metal like Eduard but I would take his word for it, and the weight is right for either it seems, so hard call. I wish it were in slightly better shape, but oh well, one gets what one pays for, and I got more than my money's worth with this one, even though it is in such poor condition I paid less than $1USD per gram heh...
