Celebrate Faustina Friday -- post anything you feel is relevant! These coins were among the first issued in honor of the Diva Faustina I following her death in late October/early November of AD 140. They bear the veil worn by the deceased empress, emphasizing her deified status. The coins of this first issue emphasize her consecration with numerous CONSECRATIO reverse types, her Piety with a handful of reverse types, the concord of Antoninus with the departed empress, and two AETERNITAS types, emphasizing the deified empress's place among the stars. Do not confuse these AETERNITAS types with the vast issue of AD 150 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the empress's death and consecration. These later types bear the DIVA FAVSTINA obverse inscription. One of these AETERNITAS types, issued only in the denarius denomination, features a star on its reverse. This is the example from the British Museum: While the other features Providentia standing, holding a globe and scepter. These coins were issued in all metals and nearly every denomination. I was taken by the artistry of the personification of Providence on the reverse of this sestertius: Faustina I, AD 138-140. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 26.91 g, 32.3 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 140. Obv: DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA •, veiled and draped bust, right. Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Providentia standing front, head left, holding globe and scepter. Refs: RIC 1108b; BMCRE 1421; Cohen --; Strack 1230; RCV --. Note also, better seen on the corresponding middle bronze and denarius denominations, small circular ornaments sewn into the empress's coiffure in front of the chignon on the top of her head. In this interesting video, Janet Stephens, an expert in ancient hairdressing techniques, shows you how Faustina's signature hairstyle was done and how these ornaments were added. Faustina I, AD 138-140. Roman Æ as, 12.87 g, 26.4 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 140-141. Obv: DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA, bust of Faustina I, draped and veiled, right. Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Providentia, draped, standing left, holding globe on extended right hand and vertical scepter in left hand. Refs: RIC 1163ab; BMCRE 1459; RCV 4635; Cohen --; Strack 1230. Faustina I, AD 138-141. Roman AR denarius, 3.27 g, 18.0 mm. Rome, AD 141. Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, veiled and draped bust, right. Rev: AETERNITAS, Providentia standing left, holding globe and scepter. Refs: RIC 350a(b); BMCRE 291; RSC 34a; RCV --; CRE 120.
I have a couple Faustina I's with Providentia reverses. They are both pretty horrible. The AE (RIC 1163B?) appears to be a "rare" variant, judging from my notes: Faustina I Æ As 5th Phase: Anniversary of Faustina’s Deification (c. 150-160 A.D.) Rome Mint DIVA FAV STINA, draped bust right / A[ETERNITA]S S C, Providentia standing left, holding globe & vertical sceptre. RIC 1163B (?) (9.68 grams / 24 mm) Attribution Note: RIC 1163B is considered a bad description of another type, according to Diva Faustina I: undated, Nov. 140 – 161 RIC 1163A with AVGVSTA is common; this one has no AVG-VSTA. Faustina I Denarius (c. 141-161 A.D.) Rome Mint DIVA AVG FAVSTINA draped bust right / AETERNITAS, Providentia, draped, standing left, holding globe in extended right hand and vertical sceptre in left RIC 350Aa; RSC 34. (2.22 grams / 18 mm)
Diva Faustina Senior, wife of Antoninus Pius (AD 141). AR Denarius (3.0g). Circa AD 147-161. Obv: DIVA-FAVSTINA; Draped bust of Diva Faustina right, hair coiled on top of head. Rev: AETER-NITAS; Aeternitas standing facing, head right, adjusting veil and holding transverse scepter. Ref: RIC 346a. RSC 40.
two interesting articles discussing hairdos' where published some years ago (1997) in the Celator. here you can read about Faustina: http://community.vcoins.com/celator-vol-11-no-06/ and here is the first part: http://community.vcoins.com/celator-vol-11-no-05/
