Faustina Friday – The AVGVSTA/Ceres with grain ears and torch issue.

TGIFF!!!



How about some Ceres?

Well, maybe the ale later. But that's not what I'm talking about.



No, not the dwarf planet, either! I'm talking about Ceres, the goddess of agriculture!



Martin Beckmann’s Diva Faustina: Coinage and Cult in Rome and the Provinces,[1] has greatly clarified the dating and arrangement of the Diva Faustina coinage. Beckmann identified an almost complete sequence of die-linkages for the aurei, supported by additional shorter, but corroborative, die-linkages among the sestertii. In addition, he discovered several mules with reverse die-linkages to dated coins of Antoninus or Aurelius Caesar, which connected certain issues to other dated events. These studies enabled Beckman to produce a comprehensive and reliable sequence of relative dating.

The coinage is divided into five main phases commencing with the deification and funeral of Faustina. The use of the DIVA FAVSTINA obverse inscription commences with the third phase of issues, from AD 145-147, issued in conjunction with the marriage of her daughter, Faustina II, to Marcus Aurelius. The AVGVSTA reverse types depicting Ceres holding a single torch belong to this third phase of issues.

There are a disproportionate number of coins depicting Ceres that were issued for Faustina and this is not coincidental. Andreas Alföldi argues that the connection between the empress and Ceres goes beyond mere concern over the grain supply or her devotion to the goddess.[2] It is more personal; Antoninus Pius was devoted to the sanctuary at Eleusis,[3] which had a temple where Faustina was worshiped as the new Demeter (Ceres) and had her own hierophant.[4] This article deals with only one coin type: the type bearing the AVGVSTA reverse legend and depicting Ceres standing left, holding corn ears in her right hand and either a long or short torch in her left that were issued AD 145-147 as noted above.

Coins with this reverse design and legend were issued in the denarius, sestertius, and middle-bronze denominations. The bust may be right- or left-facing (denarius) and either veiled or bare-headed (all denominations). On the denarii, Ceres holds only a long torch; on the bronze denominations, the torch may be short or long. A new listing of known coin types is necessary because RIC[5] does not include the middle bronze coinage with Ceres holding a short torch and Cohen[6] is in error in his description of a sestertius with a veiled bust on which Ceres bears the long torch. All coins illustrated belong to my collection unless otherwise noted.

Let’s see any Faustina coins you have depicting Ceres or anything you feel is relevant!

Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and long torch

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
Roman AR denarius, 2.69 g, 18.2 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 145 or later.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: AVGVSTA, Ceres, veiled and draped, standing left, holding two corn-ears in right hand and torch in left hand.
Refs: RIC 360a; BMC 408-414; Cohen/RSC 78; RCV 4582; Strack 474; CRE 76.​

With left-facing, veiled bust (RIC 360d; BMCRE 415; Cohen –; RSC 78a), Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 100, lot 508, 29 May 2017.​

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.59 g, 32.6 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 145-147.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: AVGVSTA S C, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and long torch.
Refs: RIC 1116(a); BMCRE 1509-11; Cohen 79; RCV 4614; Strack 1286.
Note: RIC 1116(b), uncritically citing Cohen 81, describes a variety of this coin with a veiled bust. The existence of this coin is doubtful. Cohen cites no source. Strack lists no examples. An exhaustive search of internet databases yields nothing. I suspect that Cohen mistakenly described the middle bronze version of this coin (RIC 1169b) with the veiled bust type as a sestertius.​

Faustina I, AD 138-140.
Roman Æ as or dupondius; 12.09 g, 25.7 mm, 7 h
Rome, AD 145-147.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: AVGV STA SC, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and long torch.
Refs: RIC 1169(a); BMCRE 1566; Cohen 80; RCV 4645.​

RIC 1169(b), as above but with veiled bust, is attested by Strack, who cites examples in Budapest (Nationalmuseum), the Vatican, and Naples (Nationalmuseum). The coin is extremely rare and I am unable to find any examples online at the major databases.​

Ceres standing left, holding corn ears and short torch

Faustina I, AD 138-140
Roman orichalcum sestertius; 22.86 g, 30.5 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 145-147.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: AVGV STA SC, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears in right hand and short torch slightly inclined to right in left hand.
Refs: RIC 1117; BMCRE 1512-13; Strack 1285; Cohen –; RCV –.​

As below, but with bare-headed bust (RIC –; BMCRE –; Cohen –; Strack 1285; RCV --. Tauler & Fau, lot 531, 19 January 2021.​

Faustina I, AD 138-140
Roman Æ as, 12.21 g, 24.5 mm, 11 h.
Rome, AD 145-147.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, veiled and draped bust, right.
Rev: AVGV STA SC, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears in right hand and short torch slightly inclined to right in left hand.
Refs: RIC –; BMCRE 1567; Cohen –; Strack 1285; RCV –.​

~~~

Notes:

1. Beckmann, Martin. Diva Faustina: Coinage and Cult in Rome and the Provinces. American Numismatic Society, 2012.

2. Alföldi, Andreas. “Redeunt Saturnia Regna. VII : Frugifer-Triptolemos Im Ptolemaïsch -Römischen Herrscherkult.” Chiron , vol. 9, 1979, pp. 552–606, specifically pp. 586-589.

3. Eleusis, in the outskirts of Athens, of Eleusian mysteries fame. These mysteries involved elaborate rituals devoted to the worship of Demeter (Ceres).

4. Mylonas, George E. Eleusis and the Eleusian Mysteries. Princeton University Press, 1961, pp 155, 179.

5. Mattingly, Harold and Edward A. Sydenham. The Roman Imperial Coinage. III, Spink, 1930.

6. Cohen, Henry. Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire Romain, Tome III: de Marc Aurèle à Albin (161 à 197 après J.-C.). Paris, 1883.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Very well done and enjoyable write up with stellar coin examples ta boot! Thanks RC!
My contribution and only Ceres is on this well worn Titi:

Julia Titi
(Daughter of Titus)AE Dupondius Empress. 10.76 grams 27mm
Rome AD 279-80
Obv IVLIA IMP T AVG F AVGVSTA
Draped bust of Julia right hair in bun
Rv CERES AVGVST S C
Ceres standing left holding corn ears and long torch
Sear 2615 RIC Titus 177
Former: fvrisus.rvfvs

 

I have 2 worn coins with Ceres I remember now.


8.38 g 26 mm
RIC III Antoninus Pius 1173a (as)
Date: AD 141
Legend: DIVA FAVSTINA
Type: Bust of Faustina I, draped, right, hair elaborately waved and coiled in bands across head and drawn up at back and piled in a round coil on top.
Legend: AVGVSTA S C
Type: Ceres, draped, standing, front, head left, holding short lighted torch, transverse, raised in right hand and sceptre, vertical, at side, in left




11.53 g 29 mm
RIC I (second edition) Claudius 94 Dupondius
From Date: AD 41 To Date: AD 50
Legend: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG P M TR P IMP
Type: Head of Claudius, bare, left
Legend: CERES AVGVSTA S C
Type: Ceres, veiled and draped, seated left, on ornamented throne, holding grain stalks in right hand and transverse torch in left

 

Great writeup, RC. My favorite Ceres is on this denarius of the younger Faustina. I like that she's chilling not on a throne or chair but a chest or basket of some sort... most probably filled with agricultural goodies.


FAUSTINA II
AR Denarius. 3.4g, 19.5mm. Rome mint, AD 161-164. RIC 669 (Aurelius). O: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair pulled back and tied in bun behind neck. R: CERES, Ceres seated left on chest, holding grain ears in extended right hand [and short torch cradled in left arm].
Ex Cardinal Joachim Meisner Collection

 

I do so look forward to Faustina Friday - they always make me look, and I have way more Ceres types than I thought I did - long torches, short torches, sceptres, etc.



Faustina I Æ Dupondius
3rd Phase, part 2: wedding of Faustina II to M. Aurelius
(c. 145-150 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 (Estonia)



Faustina I Æ As
3rd Phase, part 2: wedding of Faustina II to M. Aurelius
(c. 145-150 A.D.)
Rome Mint
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AVGVSTA S C, Ceres standing front holding
short lighted torch in right hand and sceptre vertical at side left.
RIC 1173a (Found in Portugal)
(8.27 grams / 24 mm)
eBay Jan. 2014


Faustina I Æ As
4th Phase: Birth of Annia Faustina to Faustina II and Marcus Aurelius
(c. 147 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[DI]VA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AVGVSTA S C, Ceres standing left with short, flaming torches in both hands.
RIC 1174 (as).
(10.56 grams / 24 mm)
eBay June 2020


Faustina I Æ Sestertius
3rd Phase, part 2: wedding of Faustina II to M. Aurelius
(c. 145-150 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[DI]VA FAVSTINA, draped bust r. / CERES, Ceres standing left, holding corn-ears and long, vertical torch; S-C across fields.
RIC 1128a; Cohen 139.
(18.01 grams / 30 mm)
eBay June 2020

I think my attribution is wrong on this one, now that I look at the photo closer - it needs further investigation:


Faustina I Æ Sestertius
5th Phase: Anniversary of Faustina’s Deification
(c. 150-160 A.D.)
Rome Mint
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AETE[RNIT]AS, S C, Ceres standing left holding torch and arranging draperies.
RIC 1100 [scarce].
(22.81 grams / 30 mm)
eBay Dec. 2018

This one is weird - appears to be a sestertius die struck on a dupondius flan? Really big and yellow, but far too light for a sestertius:

Faustina I Æ Sestertius
(Struck on dupondius flan?)
3rd Phase, part 2: wedding of Faustina II to M. Aurelius
(c. 145-150 A.D.)
Rome Mint
[DIVA] FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AVGV[ST]A S-C, Ceres standing left with short torch and corn ears.
RIC 1118; Cohen 88.
(13.70 grams / 32 mm)
eBay May 2018

Now for some silver...


Faustina I Denarius
5th Phase: Anniversary of Faustina’s Deification
(c. 150-160 A.D.)
Rome Mint
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / CONSECRATIO Ceres standing left, holding
torch and raising right hand.
RIC 382b; RSC 165a.
(2.60 grams / 17 mm)
eBay July 2019


Faustina I Denarius
3rd Phase, part 2: wedding of Faustina II to M. Aurelius
(c. 145-150 A.D.)
Rome Mint
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AVGV-STA, Ceres standing left, holding corn ears & long torch.
RIC 360; RSC 78; BMC 408.
(3.11 grams / 17 mm)
eBay July 2019


Faustina I Denarius
(c. 141-161 A.D.)
Rome Mint
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / CERES, Ceres standing left, holding grain ears and long torch.
RIC 378a; RSC 136; BMC 461.
(2.87 grams / 16 mm)
eBay June 2019

I think I have a couple more denarii, but I I'm about out of photo space!

 

In reply to my own post (how vulgar!), but the RIC 1100 above appears to be correct - the "arranging draperies" confused me.

Here is Wildwinds:




Here is mine (again):


Faustina I Æ Sestertius
5th Phase: Anniversary of Faustina’s Deification
(c. 150-160 A.D.)
Rome Mint
DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right / AETE[RNIT]AS, S C, Ceres standing left holding torch and arranging draperies.
RIC 1100 [scarce].
(22.81 grams / 30 mm)
eBay Dec. 2018

 

Interesting write-up and coins! I particularly like your as with the veiled bust. That's a very nice portrait.

My only coin from this series is a denarius showing Ceres standing right:


Faustina I “the Elder” (postumous), Roman Empire, denarius, 141 AD, Rome mint. Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA; draped bust of Faustina I r. Rev: AVGVSTA; Ceres standing r., holding sceptre and grain ears. 18mm, 2.99g. Ref: RIC III Antoninus Pius 358.