Faustina Friday – A Sestertius with a Left-Facing Bust

TGIFF!!



I’m always on the lookout for coins of Faustina featuring the empress facing left. Left-facing busts are known on only a few reverse types and they are considerably less common than their right-facing counterparts. Therefore, I always snatch them up no matter their grade. So, while the condition-crank would say no to this one …



… I took the opportunity to acquire it for my collection.

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 18.93 g, 31.7 mm, 5 h.
Rome, mid AD 152-autumn 154.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, left.
Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter.
Refs: RIC –; BMCRE 2185n.; Cohen –; RCV --; Strack 1322. ​

The left-facing variety of this coin is cited only twice in the literature. Strack cites Adolph Hess Nachfolger, Lucerne (Auction 211, Walters & Webb), 9 May 1932, pl. 12, lot 1014, illustrated below.



BMCRE 2185n cites Adolph Hess Nachfolger, Lucerne (Hoskier), 15 Feb 1934, pl. 15, lot 698, illustrated below.



As is readily apparent, these are one and the same coin, sold by the same auction firm on two separate occasions. What is less apparent but unsurprising is that the Hess specimen is an obverse die match to my well-worn example.

The coin is absent from the thirty collections catalogued by Strack. No examples are to be found at the usual internet databases, such as acsearchinfo, Coin Archives or Wildwinds. It appears that my coin may be the second known example of this type. It may be well-worn, but it’s an acquisition I am proud of!



Let’s see your humble rarities, left-facing Antonines, or anything you feel is relevant!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Thank you for posting your excellent Faustina acquisitions, @Roman Collector .

Here is my one and only Faustina II and a new flip design.

 

You sestertius is worn, but I like it.

These left facing busts are quite rare:

here are two Faustinas:




Faustina II
AR-Denar, Rome
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust left
Rev.: AVGVSTI PII FIL, Venus standing left, holding Victory and resting left hand on shield, set on helmet.
Ag, 3.60g, ca. 16mm
Ref.: RIC 495b, RSC 15a, CRE 225 [R3]



Faustina II
AR-Denar, Rome mint
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Draped bust left
Rev.: AVGVSTI P II FIL, Spes standing facing, head left, holding flower and raising skirt.
Ag, 15 mm, 2.7g
Ref.: RIC 497 var. [bust left], CRE 218 [R4]

 

Thanks for another nice Faustina Friday post, @Roman Collector

I don't have any left-facing Faustina bust. However, I do have a left-facing Faustina I figure on the reverse field of a denarius.

I guess that still fits your criteria...

Faustina Senior AR Denarius.
Rome, AD, 141.
Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, draped bust right;
Rev: CONCORDIA, Antoninus standing right, holding scroll and clasping right hands with Faustina I, standing left, holding sceptre.
RIC 381b; C. 159, 160.