The Consecration of Faustina II

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Roman Collector, Oct 20, 2019.

  1. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Let's see your posthumous issues of Faustina II or anything you feel is relevant!

    Upon her death in the winter of AD 175-176, the coinage for Faustina II passes immediately into the so-called "consecration issues." As Mattingly* notes, her coinage illustrates the story of her deification.

    First, consecration is decreed by the title "Diva" before her name on the obverse and the appearance of the pyre of consecration on the reverse. The title "Mater castrorum" of her late lifetime issues is reinterpreted; the deified empress -- a new goddess -- had been like a mother to the soldiers in life and now has her place in worship by the camp.

    Faustina Jr CONSECRATIO funeral pyre sestertius Timeline.jpg
    Diva Faustina II, AD 147-175/6.
    Roman orichalcum sestertius, 27.34 g, 31.3mm, 11 h.
    Rome, AD 176 or later.
    Obv: DIVAE FAVSTIN•AVG•MATR•CASTROR, veiled and draped bust, right.
    Rev: CONSECRATIO S C, Pyramidal crematorium of four stories with garlanded base, door on second level and surmounted by Faustina in biga.
    Refs: RIC 1709; BMCRE 1552-53; Cohen 76; Sear 5231; MIR 46.


    For the new goddess is worthy of such piety, and her new appellation as "Pia" reflects the empress's piety in life.

    Faustina Jr CONSECRATIO Pietas denarius.jpg
    Faustina Junior, AD 161-175/6.
    Roman AR denarius, 2.75 gm 19.1 mm, 11 h.
    Rome, AD 176 or later.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: CONSECRATIO, Pietas, veiled and draped, standing facing, head left, sacrificing over lighted altar from patera in left hand and holding vertical scepter in right hand.
    Refs: RIC 741; BMCRE 711; RSC 66c; RCV 5214; CRE 204.


    Next, borne aloft by the peacock of Juno, the Diva Faustina Pia passes into "Aeternitas," where her deified parents, Antoninus Pius and Faustina I, already dwell.

    Faustina Jr CONSECRATIO flying peacock sestertius.jpg
    Diva Faustina II, AD 147-175/6.
    Roman orichalcum sestertius, 26.28 g, 32.2 mm, 12 h.
    Rome, 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 1570-71; Cohen 69; RCV 5227; MIR 56.


    She is greeted by the spirit of eternity -- Aeternitas -- with the immortal phoenix as her sign.

    Faustina Jr AETERNITAS standing sestertius 2.jpg
    Diva Faustina II, AD 147-175/6.
    Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.73 g, 30.8 mm, 1 h.
    Rome, AD 176 or later.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust right.
    Rev: Aeternitas standing facing, head left, holding phoenix on globe in right hand and leaning left elbow on column.
    Refs: RIC 1693; BMCRE 1563-65; Cohen 7; RCV 5222; MIR 51; Banti 4.


    She is "received by the stars" (sideribus recepta), the heaven whence she came, and becomes a new Diana Lucifera, illuminating the darkness of the night.

    Faustina Jr SIDERIBVS RECEPTA Sestertius.jpg
    Faustina II, AD 161-175.
    Roman orichalcum Sestertius, 23.66 g, 30.2 mm, 12 h.
    Rome, AD 176 or later.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: SIDERIBVS RECEPTA, Diva Faustina, as Diana Lucifera, draped, wearing crescent on shoulders behind neck, standing right, holding lighted long torch.
    Refs: RIC 1715; BMCRE 1584-88; Cohen 215; RCV (4th ed.; not in 5th) 1530.


    [​IMG]
    Faustina Jr, AD 161-175.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.14 g, 17 mm, 11 h.
    Rome, AD 176 or later.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust right.
    Rev: CONSECRATIO, crescent moon around large star, surrounded by six stars.
    Refs: RIC 750; BMCRE 718; Cohen 83; RCV 5219; MIR 63; CRE 172.


    As a counterpart of Juno, the queen of the gods, the empress is henceforth invoked in prayer. Altar and the peacock of Juno become her attributes as well.

    Faustina Jr CONSECRATIO altar sestertius.jpg
    Faustina II, AD 161-175.
    Roman orichalcum Sestertius, 19.75 g, 30.0 mm, 1 h.
    Rome, AD 176 or later.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
    Rev: CONSECRATIO S C, Altar-enclosure, with door in front and horns visible above.
    Refs: RIC 1706; RCV 5230; BMCRE 1579-81; Cohen 76; RCV 5230; MIR 61.


    Faustina Jr CONSECRATIO Peacock denarius.jpg
    Faustina Jr, AD 161-175.
    Roman AR denarius, 3.60 g, 17.4 mm, 5 h.
    Rome, AD 176 or later.
    Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust right.
    Rev: CONSECRATIO, Peacock standing right, head left.
    Refs: RIC 744; BMCRE 716-17; RSC 71a; RCV 5215; MIR 58; CRE 202.


    ~~~

    *Mattingly, Harold, Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol. IV: Antoninus Pius to Commodus. Introduction, indexes and plates. London, BMP, 1968, pp. cxliv-cxlv.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2019
    thejewk, tenbobbit, Shea19 and 15 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Wow! Great arrangement of coins, @Roman Collector ! Fun to see them all...

    I only have ONE:

    RI Faustina Jr 161-175 CE Ar Denarius m Marcus Aurelius 17.1mm 3g.jpg
    RI Faustina Jr 161-175 CE Ar Denarius m Marcus Aurelius 17.1mm 3g
     
    Deacon Ray, ominus1, Bing and 7 others like this.
  4. Spaniard

    Spaniard Well-Known Member

    Great mix of coins @Roman Collector I really like that veiled sestertius!
    Like Alegandron I only have one from the earlier days... 1-normal_FII_TOGETHER (1).jpg
    Faustina II Junior Silver Denarius 3.36g.,17mm, Rome mint, A.D. 154-156,
    Obverse. FAVSTINA AVG-PIIAVGFIL Draped bust of Faustina right,
    Reverse. CONC-O-RDIA, Concordia seated left, holding flower & resting left arm on cornucopiae set on globe below seat.
    (RCV 4704; RIC 502a)........Must admit I'm not sure on the mintdate though?
     
  5. Finn235

    Finn235 Well-Known Member

    Nice assortment!

    I do have an "one each" assortment of Faustina II:

    As Pia Felix, while her father was still alive
    Faustina ii pia felix concordia.jpg

    As Augusta, celebrating the birth of Commodus and his twin Titus (one of my favorite Roman coins!)
    Faustina II SAECVLI FELICIT.jpg

    And as a goddess
    Diva faustina ii aeternitas.jpg
     
  6. dadams

    dadams Well-Known Member

    I love the way you’ve laid out the path with great coins which together tell the story. Very nice!
     
    Roman Collector likes this.
  7. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    Great collection Roman collector, here's my Sestertius Aeternitas, RIC 1693 not RIC 1993 I think.

    P1180352ccn.jpg
     
  8. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    Nice one, @Andres2 . Thanks for pointing out the typo. I've edited the OP to correct it.
     
    Andres2 likes this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page