I want to thank @Marsyas Mike for pointing out the existence of "Coins of British Association," discussed in this fascinating thread. Apparently, these were issued exclusively for use in Britain. I have two such coins, both middle bronzes of Faustina II minted under the authority of her father, Antoninus Pius: Faustina Jr, Augusta AD 147-175. Roman Æ as or dupondius, 11.41 g, 23.8 mm. Rome, AD 152-156. Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: FELICITAS SC, Felicitas standing left, holding caduceus, left hand on hip. Refs: RIC (Pius) 1395; BMCRE 2187; Cohen 108; RCV --. Here is the relevant listing in Sam Moorhead's article: Another example is this rather scarce dupondius. Faustina Jr, under Antoninus Pius, 147-161. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 11.60 gm, 25.5 mm, 2 h Rome, AD 152-156. Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing left, holding apple and leaning elbow against a column Refs: RIC --; BMCRE p. 856 *; Cohen 271; RCV --. The relevant listing from Moorhead's article: Post anything you feel is relevant!
I just started cleaning this and think it is a Faustina. I would like to know before I go too far. It is nice to have some recognition of the end result before starting. For the purposes of this thread, I feel it is relevant.
Well thank you, RC. That's nice of you to say. Here's my "British Association" Faustina II RIC 1395: Faustina II Æ As (c. 153-155 A.D.) Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right / FELICITAS SC, Felicitas standing left with caduceus, left hand on hip. RIC (Pius) 1395; Cohen 108 (10.10 grams / 25 mm) "British Association" type.
There are others on CT that have far more informed guesses than I do, but I don't think that's Faustina - the reverse SC is too large. I'm thinking Julio-Claudian - Claudius or Caligula, or an Augustus/Agrippa/Tiberius. Well worth pursuing in a cleaning project!
In Num. Chron. 149, 1989, pp. 209-224, I wrote a review article of David Walker's treatment of the Roman coins from the Sacred Spring at Bath, and pointed out a number of Antonine types that were apparently also "British Association", though Walker had not recognized them as such.
I wanted to update this thread with an upgrade of the Venus leaning on column issue. I also wanted to update everyone that Walker's article on the Roman coins from the Sacred Spring at Bath dates these coins to AD 153-155 on the basis of the dated coins of Antoninus Pius, which comprise 70% of the hoard (pp. 294-295). This calls into question Mattingly's dating of the FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL legend (AD 152-153), but is more consistent with Strack, who dates the legend from AD 152-156. Moreover, Curtis Clay has dated the disappearance of this legend to August, AD 156. The empress's hairstyle is also consistent with this date; the same coiffure appears on all the AVGVSTI PII FIL reverse types of AD 156-157. Faustina Jr, AD 147-175. Roman Æ as or dupondius, 10.8 g, 26.9 mm. Rome, AD 153-55. Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing left, holding apple and leaning elbow against a column. Refs: RIC --; BMCRE p. 856 *; Cohen 271; Strack 1323; RCV --. In addition, Walker notes the existence of this type of middle bronze of Faustina I, comprising 59% of Faustina the Elder's coins at Bath. As is typical with these "coins of British Association," this type is only found in the middle bronze denomination. This is from Moorhead's article summarizing Walker's findings: I have two examples. This one is clearly a dupondius. Walker notes both asses and dupondii were found, but asses were much more common (Walker p. 295 and 298, nos. 298-362, plate XXXVII). On this one, Pietas is exceptionally curvaceous. Moreover, she doesn't clearly hold an incense box: Faustina I, AD 138-140. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 9.83 g, 24.5 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 153-55. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Pietas standing left, dropping incense over altar with right hand and holding incense box in left hand. Refs: RIC 1161; BMCRE 1558; Cohen 43; RCV 4641; Strack 1271. I upgraded that specimen in 2003 with this one, where Pietas is a little more prim and staid, more typical for the issue. The coins have different die-axes, in addition to the difference in the depiction of Pietas on the reverse. Faustina I, AD 138-140. Roman Æ as or dupondius, 11.92 g, 26.5 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 153-55. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: AETERNITAS S C, Pietas standing left, dropping incense over altar with right hand and holding incense box in left hand. Refs: RIC 1161; BMCRE 1558; Cohen 43; RCV 4641; Strack 1271.
I want to point out the existence of yet another coin of British association, discussed by Curtis Clay in the article for Numismatic Chronicle he mentions above. @curtislclay dates this coin to AD 154-155.* Faustina I, AD 138-140. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 12.08 g, 26.5 mm, 5 h. Rome, AD 154-155. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, r. Rev: AVGVSTA SC, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears in left hand and short torch in right. Refs: RIC 1171; BMCRE 1568-71; Cohen 89; Strack 1287; RCV 4646. *Clay, Curtis L. “The Supply of Bronze Coins to Britain in the Second Century.” Numismatic Chronicle, vol. 149, 1989, p. 215.
Thanks for this update, since I have one of these as well, and I'll add a "British Association" bit to the description and correct the date based on @curtislclay information: Faustina I Æ Dupondius 3rd Phase, part 2: wedding of Faustina II to M. Aurelius (c. 154-155 A.D.) Rome Mint DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AVGVSTA S-C, Ceres standing left holding short torch in raised right hand and corn-ears in lowered left hand. RIC III, 1171 type 1; Cohen 89. (12.71 grams / 26 mm) eBay Sep. 2020