A new veiled bust Faustina I consecration issue

Recently won this at auction and I thought I'd show it off. It's not FDC, nor is it the great rarity that Tameryazev and Makarenko (CRE)* would lead you to believe, but it is scarce and a welcome addition to my collection.


Faustina I, AD 138-141.
Roman AR denarius, 2.86 g, 18 mm.
Rome, AD 141-147.
Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, veiled and draped bust, right.
Rev: CONSECRATIO, Eagle standing right, head left.
Refs: RIC 387b; BMCRE 305 var.; Cohen 181; RCV --; CRE 95.

There are a handful of other examples at acsearchinfo, struck with at least three reverse dies, but this particular reverse die is easy to identify because of the bizarrely-formed S in CONSECRATIO. Moreover, with use, the die became filled in the E, the R, and the T, such as on this reverse die match:


Heidelberger Münzhandlung Herbert Grün, auction 52, lot 322, Nov. 13, 2009.

Here are some examples struck earlier in the lifetime of the die before it became filled:


CNG Mailbid sale 64, lot 1367, May 21, 2003. This is the CRE plate coin.


Gorny & Mosch, auction 117, lot 590, Oct. 14, 2002.

Post anything you feel is relevant!

~~~

*Temeryazev, S. A. and T. P. Makarenko. The Coinage of Roman Empresses. San Bernardino, CreateSpace, an Amazon.com Company, 2017, p. 44. Referred to as CRE.

 

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I wonder if the engraver started gouging out a C before realizing it should be an S. It rather looks like the upper 2/3 of a C made into an S.

 

Interesting theory, @TIF ! Perhaps he started to engrave CONCORDIA out of habit.

 

Cool, @Roman Collector . Like the coin, and really like that C, oops, S .

I agree with @TIF . Consider: Die cutters (engravers) were perhaps slaves. Perhaps illiterate, or their native language was Greek... Wasn't the Greek 'C' pronounced as a Latin 'S' ? Just thoughts.

LOL, I have been 40 years in manufacturing, purchasing a LOT of tooling (dies) over the years. Lotsa hilarious "OOPSIES" with some of those tools, especially those commissioned in other countries and cultures that were not as familiar with English, and/or Latin lettering, etc.

I only have one Faustina I:


RI Faustina Sr 138-140 CE after 146 CE DIVA AR Denarius m Antoninus Pius 17.4mm 3.2g Ceres torch fold RIC 362 RSC 104

 

Very nice RC, with great eye appeal. congrats.

 

Nice coin and impressive research, RC. I should say nice bird too. Earlier this year I got a similar one with the peacock strutting on a scepter (if that's what it is). The reverse legend initially confused me because the peacock's crest looks like part of the legend:



Faustina I Denarius
(c. 141-161 A.D.)
Rome Mint
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / CONSECRATIO, peacock walking right (on
sceptre, per Strack?), head left.
RIC 384a; Cohen 176.
(2.71 grams / 18 mm)