A Late Sestertius of Faustina II with a Dative Obverse Inscription (Previously Unattested)

I was the high bidder on this homely sestertius of Faustina II at the current Bertolami auction.

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 20.66 g, 29 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 174-175.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVGVSTAE, bare-headed and draped bust, right; late coiffure.
Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA S C, Diana standing right, holding lighted torch in both hands.
Refs: Dinsdale 007295 (this coin), otherwise unattested with dative obverse inscription; cf. RIC 1630, BMCRE 899-900, Cohen 88, RCV 5272, MIR 8-6/10c.​

The coin may not look like much but it appears to be a previously unattested inscriptional variety and may well be unique. It bears the dative case obverse inscription FAVSTINAE AVGVSTAE, which had not been previously described for this issue. This is very interesting and significant.

THE DATIVE CASE IN ROMAN NUMISMATIC TITULATURE

A discussion of the significance of the dative case is going to involve a bit of Latin grammar, so bear with me. The simplest and most familiar form of Roman coin legend is: on the obverse, the names and titles of the emperor written in the nominative case and, on the reverse, a figure of some god or goddess, with the name also in the nominative, often with the appendix AVG. This is illustrated by the usual form of this sestertius, RIC 1630, as exemplified by this example from a recent Roma auction (E-Sale 75, lot 648, 15 Oct 2020). On this coin, the obverse bears the nominative inscription FAVSTINA AVGVSTA. The reverse is also in the nominative case: DIANA LVCIFERA.



The formulation of legends of this type seems so bland and repetitive that it has attracted little attention. This usage is likely what is known as a nominative absolute, which is the use of the nominative case in introductory material (such as titles, headings, salutations, and addresses), which are not to be construed as sentences. Such an inscription is not the subject of an implied verb, such as "made," and "the nominative simply names the imperial person who appears on the coins and does not mean that he or she made them."[1]

However, the names of imperial personages are sometimes written in the dative case on Roman coins of the imperial period, particularly in the second century AD, meaning "to" or "for" the person concerned (dative of advantage).[2] In ancient Rome, this was the most common case used for dedicatory inscriptions of all kinds, on statues and buildings in particular.[3] On Roman coin legends, as in these inscriptions, the name of the emperor often appears in the dative after the nominative S P Q R[4]: "The Senate and People of Rome to the Emperor [...]." Such is the case on this denarius of Trajan bearing the inscription (which extends from obverse to reverse) IMP TRAINO AVG GER DAC P M TR P/COS V P P S P Q R OPTIMO PRINC. This is translated "The senate and people of Rome for the emperor Trajan, the revered one, victor over the Germans and Dacians, highest priest, holder of tribunician power, consul for the 5th time, father of his country, the best of leaders."



Of course, the inscriptions consist only of abbreviations and most of the inflectional endings are lost, but TRAINO is clearly in the dative, as is OPTIMO PRINC[IPI].

The dative case occurs frequently on coins made in the name of deceased members of the imperial family, DIVAE FAVSTIN AVG MATR CASTROR for instance, as on this sestertius of Faustina II with a CONSECRATIO reverse type.



Lastly, the dative case is not infrequently used on coins issued for princes and women issued by their fathers or husbands in honor of or for them. The dative case conveys this notion of "for so-and-so." Examples include:

• Nero under his adoptive father Claudius (NERONI)
  
• Commodus under his father Marcus Aurelius (COMMODO)
  
• Hannibalian as nephew, and Constantine II and Crispus as sons under Constantine the Great (CONSTANTINO etc.)
  
• Lucilla under her father Marcus Aurelius and her husband Lucius Verus (LVCILLAE)
  
• Plautilla under her father-in-law Septimius Severus (PLAVTILLAE).

So was the case when Antoninus Pius issued coins for his daughter, Faustina II, with the obverse legend FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG F(IL), used from AD 147 to no later than AD 150,[5,6] as on this sestertius in my collection:



However, the nominative case was used on coins of Faustina II for nearly a quarter of a century afterward -- until the dative case was again used for the DIANA LVCIFERA coin with which this thread begins. This is puzzling; @curtislclay rightfully ponders,[7] "Faustina's obverse legend had been in the nominative case since about 150; why this occasional return to the dative c. 25 years later?"

The answer, I believe, is to be found in the only other reverse type from this period that uses the dative case: a very rare sestertius of the MATRI CASTRORVM S C reverse type (RIC 1660), as illustrated by this specimen in the British Museum (BMCRE 929).



In the reverse inscription, MATRI is in the dative case (CASTRORVM is genitive, "of the camps"). It seems best to take this as a dedicatory inscription.[8] Indeed, Curtis Clay continues, "Perhaps the mint wanted to acclaim Faustina with her new title Mother of the Camps, so wrote MATRI rather than MATER CASTRORVM, sort of like SPQR OPTIMO PRINCIPI for Trajan. Then it would be natural to put the obverse legend too in the dative case, agreeing with the reverse legend."

This coin is also known with the obverse inscription in the nominative (RIC 1659). Mr. Clay goes on to postulate, "The MATRI CASTRORVM sestertii with nominative obverse legend might be from older obverse dies that had originally been cut for use with a previous reverse type. For Diva Faustina, the MATRI CASTRORVM type was continued and was always coupled with an obverse legend in the dative case."

So how to explain the use of the dative case on the DIANA LVCIFERA coin which, unlike the MATRI CASTRORVM issue, does not name a title bestowed upon the empress? Could it possibly be a mule/hybrid, accidentally struck with an obverse die intended for the MATRI CASTRORVM type (RIC 1660)? Were it a die match with any of the known examples of RIC 1660, this would be proven. Unfortunately, I have been able to find only two examples of RIC 1660 online (an example Bertolami attempted to sell three times and the British Museum specimen above). It is not an obverse die match to either.

Of course, the absence of a die match does not disprove the mule theory, particularly since there are only two examples with which to compare it. However, the purpose of the dative case on the obverse inscription on the DIANA LVCIFERA coin must therefore remain unknown.

THE INSCRIPTION'S IMPLICATION FOR DATING THE DIANA LVCIFERA ISSUE

We know that Faustina received the title of Mater Castrorum (Mother of the Camps), associated with Marcus Aurelius' seventh acclamation as Imperator, in mid-174.[9] Therefore, it is not unreasonable to conclude the DIANA LVCIFERA reverse type was issued at the same time or shortly following the MATRI CASTRORVM issue. The coin must have been issued sometime between mid-174 and the empress' death in late 175.

Post comments, coins with dative case inscriptions, or anything you feel is relevant!

~~~

1. Jonathan Williams. "The Republican identity of Roman imperial coinage. 1st to mid-3rd centuries AD." Money and Identity. Lectures about History, Design and Museology of Money [Proceedings of the 11th Meeting of the International Committee of Money and Banking Museums (ICOMON), Seoul, 2004] edited by Reiner Cunz, Hannover 2007, pp. 57-72; see p. 68.

2. "Allen and Greenough / Latin Grammar." Dative of Reference | Dickinson College Commentaries, dcc.dickinson.edu/grammar/latin/dative-reference.

3. Williams, op. cit., p. 61.

4. As brought to my attention by @curtislclay in a previous thread.

5. "AD 147- about 150": Mattingly, Harold, Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol. 4, Antoninus Pius to Commodus. London, 1940, reprinted with alterations 1968, pp. xliv, lxxvi-lxvii; 158 ff.

6. "AD 147-149": Strack, Paul L., Untersuchungen zur Römischen Reichsprägung des Zweiten Jahrhunderts, vol. 3, Die Reichsprägung zur Zeit des Antoninus Pius. Stuttgart 1937.

7. Personal communication.

8. Williams, op. cit., p. 68.

9. Levick, Barbara. Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press, 2014, p. 78.

 

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Not only super rare, but of some historical significance! It must've been a kick to research this.

 

That's a fantastic find, @Roman Collector, with a very interesting mystery associated with it! Coins with a dative obverse inscription are also found for certain Third Century Caesars and junior Augusti, as is the case with my Volusian:

Volusian, as Augustus (251-253), Antoninianus, Antioch mint, second officina.
Obverse: IM C V AF GAL VEND VOLVSIANO AVG, radiate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. Two dots beneath;
Reverse: AEQVITAS AVGG, Aequitas standing left, holding scales and cornucopia;
Unlisted reverse legend

 

Fascinating and significant RC! And a great coin in itself too.

 

Very interesting, @Roman Collector
I only learned English, German and French at school, so I only know the German dativ Kasus, plus some old nordic dativ forms that has remained in the Norwegian language. (What I’m saying is that I may be posting a wrong coin here )



Faustina II (147-175 AD). AR Denarius , Rome 147-149 AD

Obverse: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust to right.
Reverse: LAETITIAE PVBLICAE, Laetitia standing left.
Reference: BMC 1048. RIC 506b.

Diameter: 19mm. Weight: 2.96g Conservation: Very fine

I suppose this was a coin that Antoninus Pius got made for his daughter and for the happiness of the Roman people?

 

Exactly!

 

Another wonderful Faustina Friday that goes into my permanent Faustina File (really, I have one).

Yours is still way better than mine, RC. Here is my dative Faustina II that shouldn't be. It was an eBay purchase from a French seller - I had no idea it was a variety, it was a bottom-feeder's grab:



Faustina II Æ Sestertius
(161-176 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINAE [AVGVSTAE], draped bust right. / [DIANA LVCIFERA SC] Diana standing right holding long torch in both hands.
RIC 1630 var. (FAVSTINAE); Cohen 88; BMC 899.
(21.44 grams / 27 mm)

 

Wow!!! A second example of the coin -- right here among us Faustina fanatics at CT!!

That may well be an obverse die-match to mine, judging by the relationship of the letters to the hair on the portrait and the shape of the letters.

 

If you come across a similar coin that is not a die-match, you can rid yourself of the possibility that the legend on your coin is a typo from the engraver.

 

Well it is an honor to have a die match with one of RC's rarities!

 

I found another one of these, back when I was researching this variation for mine. Unfortunately it is an eBay auction from 2018, so I am not sure it is retrievable. The photos are dark and I only saved the obverse to jpg. I did save the whole auction to pdf, but I am not sure if I can upload something like that.

Auction 332695942842
ended: Jun 29, 2018 , 12:07AM
Sold: $21.50 (not me, sorry to say!)

Seller's description and photo:

"Presenting an undated Roman Imperial sestertius of Faustina II (wife of Marcus Aurelius) (146-175 A.D.) Obverse: FAVSTINAE AVGVSTAE. Draped bust of Faustina II, facing right. Reverse: DIANA LVCIFERA (Diana, bringer of light) S.C. Diana standing, facing right, holding lighted with both hands. Rome mint. RIC 1630 variation."

 

This is why it's important that collectors report these varieties!

That may be a die match as well.

 

Excellent explanation of several unusual uses of the dative case. I love the dative case, although ablatives are pretty nice too. Now, next week I hope you can find a coin that uses the supine construction.

 

As we’re into Latin cases, and this also is one of your areas, @Roman Collector : When I look for the translation of «Apoll Salutari», the internet tells me that it means «the security of Apollo».
Now, is this genitive seen in the i-ending of «Salutari», or in «Apoll»?

 

Salutari is either the dative or ablative (unlikely) of salutaris. It's an adjective, not a noun, and it would mean saving, salvific, salutary (duh!), health-bringing, etc. It modifies Apollo, which would have to be in the dative case as well. Apoll is therefore short for Apolloni.

"The security of Apollo" is not quite correct. A better translation would be "(For/To) Health-bringing Apollo."

 

@Roman Collector....Nice coin!...Thoroughly enjoyed the write up Thanks.
Now I understand the difference between Dative and Nominative here's my Dative Lucilla...

Lucilla Denarius...165-169 AD Rome 2.64g...18mm
Obverse- LVCILLAE AVG ANTONINI AVG F, draped bust right
Reverse- VENVS, Venus standing left, holding apple and sceptre.
RIC:784

 

Thank you. I will probably keep asking you stupid questions about Latin in the future now, because:


Google translator bites the dust again.

 

@Roman Collector, thanks for the explanation and the great coins! So, is the inscription on the reverse of this coin of mine dative? Does it mean something like "For the Great Mother" or "To the Great Mother"?

Faustina II (wife of Marcus Aurelius & daughter of Antoninus Pius), AR Denarius,ca. 170-176 AD, Rome mint. Obv. Draped bust right, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA / Rev. Turreted Cybele seated left, holding olive branch with right hand extended, left elbow resting on drum, lion at her side next to throne, MATRI MAGNAE. RIC III MA 706, RSC II 172, Sear RCV II 5159 (ill.), BMCRE MA 134, Dinsdale 005550 [Dinsdale, Paul H., The Imperial Coinage of the Middle Antonines: Marcus Aurelius with Lucius Verus and Commodus, Ch. 4, Faustina II - Undated, 158-176 (http://romanpaulus.x10host.com/Marcus/04 - Faustina II - Undated, 158-176 (med_res).pdf) at p. 56; photo at p. 62]. 18 mm., 3.05 g.

 

Yes, @DonnaML, the dative case. It does mean "to/for the great mother."

 

@Roman Collector - a most interesting post

I recently won this Flavian provincial coin in a Nomos auction.
Can anyone tell me why it is in the dative ? There is an extra T in
Titus, so perhaps it was a mistake by an inexperienced celator ?


Titus with Domitian, as Caesars, under Vespasian, 69-79. Hemiassarion

Bronze, 17.5 mm, 3.61 g, 6 h

Uncertain mint in Asia Minor.

ΤΙΤΤω ΚΑΙΣΑΡΙ Laureate head of Titus to left.

Rev. ΔΟΜEΤΤΙΑΝω ΚΑΙΣΑΡΙ Laureate head of Domitian to right.

RPC II 2813. RPC Online 2813.3 (this coin).