Last purchase for this year and probably the completion of this little collection for this decade anyway. This coin is a posthumous issue by the son of and honoring the Hubby of Faustina Jr., the coin in my profile photo. They both sport an equally spectacular reverse with a splendid patinated silhouette. Even their flan shapes are reminiscent of each other. I easily fall for a unique patina. The Roman Sestertius was not my interest as a teenage collector but I always did think these with the deep patinas were especially pretty. Marcus Aurelius 161-180 A.D. Sestertius Rome Mint About Fine AE Sestertius 21.70g. 31mm. Struck under Commodus c. 180-182 A.D. Rome Mint Bare head, r. DIVVS M ANTONINVS PIVS Eagle flying r., bearing aloft Marcus Aurelius holding sceptre; In ex.: S C RIC III 660 Glossy black patina minor pit on neck "Consecratio"
Nice! The dusty-highlight look is really attractive. I splurged on one of these last year. It’s not as squared as yours, but not completely round either. I’ve always wondered why they gave some of these straight sides but not others.
Nice details @zumbly . He has that deep thinking philosopher look that he is known to history by. I am sure he planned or would appreciate this take on his ride into the eternal realm of souls. I just recently learned here on CT that there were varied techniques and materials for making the flans and different schools of experts. maybe that is why the shapes varied. I wonder if they had guilds for coin minting techniques probably even with valuable guarded technique secrets. @dougsmit and @Ed Snible would probably know about the flan shapes.
Here's a consecration sestertius of Faustina II with similar -- but appropriately feminine -- imagery: Diva Faustina II (Died 175/6) Roman orichalcum sestertius, 26.28 g, 32.6 mm Rome, struck under Marcus Aurelius, AD 176 or later Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust right Rev: CONSECRATIO S - C, Faustina, holding scepter, seated left on back of peacock flying upward to right Refs: RIC 1702; BMCRE 1570; Cohen 69; RCV 5227; MIR 56.
I have the Perils of Paulina Peacock to offer... RI Paulina w Maximinus I D before CE 235 AE sestertius 30.77mm 19.66g 2nd emiss of Maximinus I CE 236 Peacock RIC IV 3 RARE
