I preordered this last month and it arrived today! There is a lot to digest here. I haven't read enough to write a decent book review. He does a series of die linkage studies of aurei and some denarii. He identifies 10 hairstyles and places them in a relative chronological order, noting some were in use simultaneously. He confirms and adopts Ameling's sequence of her children as depicted on her coinage. He confirms that dies with bare-headed busts, busts with strands of pearls, and stephaned busts were in use simultaneously, sharing reverse dies in many cases. I wish he had provided a chronological table of reverse types, but I'll have to construct one on my own. I had this same criticism of his earlier work on Faustina I. I look forward to incorporating Beckmann's findings into future installments of Faustina Friday.
That cover coin is stunning! Look forward to seeing this info. in FFs. Just recently snagged the Faustina Senior book. Fascinating, and addicting. Their coins have quickly become some of my favorite designs.
Looks like a nice book. I guess I'll order one to learn more about Faustina's coins. I agree that the cover coin is stunning. Wonder if there is a denarius version of this early hairstyle.
Thanks for mentioning about the Faustina Senior book. While I was ordering my Faustina Junior paperback online a little while ago, I saw the hard-cover Faustina Senior is on sale. Happily purchased both.
Thanks @Roman Collector for the reference. Although I decided to buy a hardbound copy, I also found a digital copy at scribd.com. The discussions, die chains, classification of portraits, and die metrics are all useful and interesting. Although it is only Monday, here is the coin of Faustina that prompted the reading: Beckmann Type 1a with 3 bangs and band of pearls from the year after the arrival of her first child and elevation to Augusta in December 147. Faustina II, AR denarius (3.59g, 18mm), Augusta, AD 147-175, Rome, under Antoninus Pius, circa AD December 147 and March 149 Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust of Faustina II right, hair tied in bun at back of head, single circlet of pearls around Rev: V-E-NVS, Venus standing facing, head left, holding apple and rudder with dolphin entwined Ref: RIC 515a; Strack 520; BMC 1067; RSC 261 Notes: more on this coin here - Faustina the Younger
Beautiful coin, @Sulla80. The young Faustina II portrait is the most attractive among various Roman empresses, IMHO.
Sulla, You were allowed to view the whole book online? I was only allowed to see 18 pages, without joining for a 30-day free trial membership, of which I am wary. No harm done in my case, however, since I too have ordered a printed copy of the book, which will hopefully arrive this week. Curtis Clay
One advantage to reading it in electronic book format. Your OCD doesn't care about this. This bothers me more than it should. Beckmann's two volumes don't match in size or style.
I can see how that could be unsatisfying. Another advantage of digital editions, often, you can search the full text and analyze word usage.
