Cool Fausta, @galba68 ... super obverse. Here is mine: RI Fausta 325-326 CE AE3 Spes stdg 2 infants SMHA 20mm 3.48g scratch over eye
I don't know about Thessalonica. With the dots before and after the mint mark and the lack of an SM before the TS, I'm skeptical about this attribution. I'm thinking Siscia. Could it read •ASIS•? Here's one from my collection, for example: Fausta, AD 307-326 Roman billon centenionalis; 2.92 gm, 19 mm Siscia, AD 324-26 Obv: FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, r. Rev: SPES REIPVBLICAE, empress standing, facing, head l., holding two infants (Constantine II and Constantius II); •BSIS• in exergue Refs: RIC-205; LRBC-730; Cohen-17; Sear-16570.
Nice new purchase! Fausta Augusta, Struck 326-328 AD AE2, Thessalonica Mint Obverse: FLAV MAX – FAVSTA AVG, bust of Fausta, waved hair, mantled, right. Reverse: SPES REIP-VBLICAE, Empress, veiled, draped, standing front, head left, holding two children in her arms. Exergue: SMTSA References: RIC VII 161
Britannia associated: RIC VII, London, Fausta, No. 300 Reduced weight follis - 324 to 325 O: Fausta bust right - FLAV MAX FAVSTA AG R: Fausta holding two infant sons - SALVS REIPVBLICAE - PLON (exergue) Killingholme Hoard (Trier Mint) - 324 to 325
Excellent example @galba68. The folles of Fausta are less often encountered from the western empire than from the mints in the eastern empire. Although Siscia is at the gateway to the eastern empire, nice examples from there are not all that common. Yours is a particularly nice one and comes from officina A which is less common than B. Since you couldn't read the mint mark I will assume you bought it to have SOMETHING for Fausta. Well, you sumbled upon a very nice something. Did you buy this at auction?
Cyzicus one: Fausta, Augusta 324-326. Roman AE 3 Centenionalis, 2.59 gm, 19.7 mm, 6 h. Cyzicus, AD 326. Obv: FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: SPES REIPVBLICAE, empress standing facing, head left, holding two infants (Constantine II and Constantius II). In exergue: •SMKΓ•. Refs: RIC vii p. 650, 50; LRBC I 1170; Cohen 17; RCV 16579.
True, but notice the difference between the A in the mint mark (open) and the A in REIPVBLICAE (closed). It's quite pronounced. I also see a difference in the serifs between the I in SIS and the I in REI. To me, this suggests that the reverse inscription and the mint mark may have been engraved by different people. It's certainly not proof, but it's an intriguing clue.
Just acquired a coin of this type, and lo! it was recently shown on CoinTalk. Here's mine, with a nice patina. AE follis, Fausta (307-326), second wife of Constantine. Antioch, 324-326. Obv. Bust r. with a pearl necklace. FLAV MAX / FAVSTA AVG. Rev. Spes standing, holding two babies in her arms. SPES REIP / VBLICAE. SMANT-epsilon in exergue. 19 mm, 3.23 gr. The engraving of the F in Fausta didn't go quite well.
