Faustina Friday – Diana Lucifera as a Goddess of Childbirth?

TGIFF, everyone! Today we're going to talk about two separate issues of Faustina the Younger that have similar reverse types, the DIANA LVCIF issue of late AD 157, on which Diana stands facing left, and the DIANA LVCIFERA issue, dating to AD 170 or 171, on which Diana stands facing right. We will see that the earlier issue likely commemorated the birth of a male child in AD 157 who later died in infancy. Similarly, I propose the later issue commemorated the birth of Faustina's last child, Vibia Sabina, in AD 171.

This article will discuss the various varieties of the two reverse types, their dating, and the iconography and purpose of their issue. Unless noted otherwise, all coins illustrated are from my own collection.

The DIANA LVCIF issue of late AD 157

This reverse type was used on coins of the aureus, denarius, sestertius, and middle bronze denominations. The bronze denominations circulated heavily, and high-grade examples are difficult to find in the numismatic trade.

Aureus (RIC 673), British Museum collection, featuring the Diana Lucifera reverse type of AD 157. All aurei of this type appear to have been produced from two obverse dies, each depicting the empress facing left and wearing the Beckmann type 6 coiffure.[1]​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 2.83 g, 16.6 mm, 5 h.
Rome, AD 157.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: DIANA LVCIF, Diana standing left, holding long transverse lighted torch with both hands.
Refs: RIC 674; BMCRE 87-88; Cohen 85; Strack 520b; RCV 5250; MIR 7-4/10a; CRE 174.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.96 g, 30.6 mm, 11 h.
Rome, AD 157.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: DIANA LVCIF S C, Diana standing left, holding long transverse lighted torch with both hands.
Refs: RIC 1628; BMCRE 897-98; Cohen 87; Strack 1333; RCV –; MIR 7-6/10a.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman Æ as or dupondius, 10.87 g, 26.3 mm, 11 h.
Rome, AD 157.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: DIANA LVCIF S C, Diana standing left, holding long transverse lighted torch with both hands.
Refs: RIC 1629; BMCRE 972-73; Cohen 86; Strack 1333; RCV 5293; MIR 7-7/10a.​

Dating the DIANA LVCIF issue

Because this reverse type was issued in the aureus denomination, it falls under the purview of Beckmann's die-linkage study of the aurei of Faustina the Younger and a date of AD 157 is rather well established.[2] Beckmann's study is entirely consistent with the dating worked out by Strack based upon a hoard of aurei found in Egypt in the 1920s.[3] The hoard included aurei of Pius dated by tribunician power to AD 143 (1 coin), 145 (1 coin), 146 (2 coins), 148 (1 coin), 149 (2 coins), 153 (2 coins), 154 (1 coin), 156 (6 coins), and 157 (29 coins). There are no later coins, so AD 157 is not only the terminal year of the hoard, but also the production year of half its contents. The hoard also included seven coins of Faustina II: 5 of Diana with a bow (filiation on reverse) and 2 of the Fecunditas seated with three children reverse (FECVNDITATI AVGVSTAE). This type was used only in the aureus denomination and is illustrated below.

Aureus (RIC 679), ANS collection (1958.223.10), depicting Faustina as Fecunditas holding an infant boy (nude, therefore male) with two girls standing alongside her.​

Beckmann's die study shows clearly that the DIANA LVCIF and FECVNDITATI AVGVSTAE reverse types were in use at the same time in AD 157, just after the transition between coins with and without mention of her father.[4]

Martin Beckmann's die-linkage chart demonstrating the appearance of the DIANA LVCIF and FECVNDITATI AVGVSTAE reverse types following the loss of filiation on the reverse in AD 157.​

The iconography and purpose of the issue

Diana (Artemis) was a goddess of childbirth. She was invoked during labor along with Juno Lucina (Hera-Eileithyia), the goddess protector of women and labor. Whereas Juno Lucina was the patron of mothers in childbirth, Diana was the patron-protector of the infant. Indeed, as a baby herself, Diana was said to have helped her mother in the delivery of her twin brother, Apollo.[5]

The DIANA LVCIF and FECVNDITATI AVGVSTAE reverse types clearly refer to a new birth in the imperial household.[6] By 157, Faustina had previously delivered four children: Domitia Faustina, born 30 November 147, Lucilla, born 7 March 149, Faustina III, born 150/151, and T. Aelius Antoninus, born 152. However, Domitia Faustina died some time in AD 150 or 151, and T. Aelius Antoninus died in infancy or early childhood. Therefore, at the beginning of AD 157, only Lucilla and Faustina III were still alive. The appearance of the Diana Lucifera and Fecunditas reverse types coincides with and illustrates the addition of a male heir (T. Aelius Aurelius?) to the family in late 157.[7] Beckmann comments that as a result of the birth of a male heir, "Faustina was no longer presented as the daughter of Antoninus Pius, but rather simply as 'Faustina Augusta;' this marked a significant development in the public image of the empress."[8]

The DIANA LVCIFERA issue of AD 170 or 171 (or possibly 174-175)

In contrast to the DIANA LVCIF issue of AD 157, the later DIANA LVCIFERA reverse type was only used for the bronze denominations. Diana Lucifera stands facing right on this type.[9] The coins feature Faustina only with the Beckmann type 10 hairstyle. The sestertius is known with the typical FAVSTINA AVGVSTA obverse legend, but also with the only-recently-described dative case legend, FAVSTINAE AVGVSTAE.[10] The empress is depicted on both the sestertius and middle bronze denominations either bare-headed or wearing the stephane. The versions with the stephane are quite scarce.

The typical version of the sestertius: nominative case inscription and bare-headed bust, Roma E-Sale 75, lot 648, 15 Oct 2020.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 20.68 g, 28.4 mm, 5 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.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.68 g, 32.3 mm, 1 h.
Rome, AD 170-175.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Bust of Faustina II, draped and wearing stephane, right.
Rev: DIANA LVCIFERA S C, Diana standing right, holding lighted torch in both hands.
Refs: RIC 1631; BMCRE 901; Cohen 91; RCV 5272 var. (no stephane); MIR 8-6/10c diad.
Notes: Obverse die-match to the British Museum specimen.​

Dating the DIANA LVCIFERA issue

Because this reverse type was only issued in bronze, it cannot be dated by Beckmann's die-linkage study of Faustina's aurei. However, it is clear it was issued rather late in Faustina's lifetime based on the empress' hairstyle. On coins of this reverse type, the empress always is depicted with the Beckmann type 10 hairstyle. This coiffure does not appear on Faustina's aurei until after the death of Lucius Verus in AD 169[11] and was in use on her coinage for the rest of her life and even on those issued posthumously in her honor. Thus, the reverse type was issued sometime after AD 169 and before the empress' death in November, AD 175. However, two possible dates come to mind: either c. AD 170-171 if the coin's purpose was to commemorate the birth of Faustina's daughter Vibia Sabina, or mid-174 to 175 if the dative case sestertius was a mule of an obverse die intended for use with the MATRI CASTRORVM reverse type.

In terms of the iconography, it may be well understood as commemorating the birth of Vibia Sabina in AD 170 or 171, who would have been the three-year-old at Sirmium when Herodes Atticus was there in 174. After all, Diana Lucifera is a goddess of childbirth and the reverse type had been used before to commemorate a birth in the imperial household. This makes the most sense in terms of placing the issue in a historical context. I also wonder whether the curious use of the stephane on a portrait with this hairstyle indicates the empress had born a child; the use of the stephane to indicate a childbirth is something that warrants future investigation. But this purpose doesn't explain the existence of obverse dies in the dative case.

In terms of the four known examples struck with a single obverse die in the dative case, it makes most sense that they were mules produced with an obverse die intended for the MATRI CASTRORVM reverse type, which can be reliably dated to late AD 174-175, after the empress received the Mater Castrorum title. However, I have conducted an exhaustive online image search for an obverse die link between the MATRI CASTRORVM type and the DIANA LVCIFERA type and have not found such a die-match.[12] Moreover, for what possible purpose would a Diana Lucifera reverse type have been issued in the final year of Faustina’s life?

Therefore, I favor a date of AD 170-71, though I acknowledge that dating the DIANA LVCIFERA type remains an open issue until more research reveals additional clues.

~~~

Notes

1. Beckmann, Martin, Faustina the Younger: Coinage, Portraits, and Public Image, A.N.S. Numismatic Studies 43, American Numismatic Society, New York, 2021, pp. 51-53.

2. Ibid., p 53.

3. Strack, Paul L., Untersuchungen zur Römischen Reichsprägung des Zweiten Jahrhunderts, vol. 3, Die Reichsprägung zur Zeit des Antoninus Pius. Stuttgart 1937, p. 18.

4. Beckmann, op. cit., p. 52-53.

5. "Artemis Goddess of Hunting, Wild Animals, Children and Birth." Theoi.com, https://www.theoi.com/Olympios/ArtemisGoddess.html.

6. Ibid., p 53.

7. See my summary of Faustina's pregnancies in the appendix, below. here. It is based on the work of Levick, Barbara. Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 115-117.

8. Beckmann, op cit., p. 53.

9. There is a single example of a middle bronze of this type on which Diana Lucifera is depicted standing left (RIC 1633, citing Otto Helbing Nachfolger, Munich, Auction 49, pl. 14, 339, 22 March,1926). This is likely a die-engraver’s error and not an intended type. Dinsdale, Paul H. The Imperial Coinage of the Middle Antonines: Marcus Aurelius with Lucius Verus and Commodus. Leeds, Paul H Dinsdale, 2020, p. 66 n. 1.

10. The inscription is unattested in Cohen, RIC, BMCRE, and Cayon. Our own @Marsyas Mike seems to be the first person to have noticed this variety, when he posted the example from his collection on 20 November 2020. This puzzled me at the time, but when I purchased an example six weeks later for my own collection, I posted about it and a few other examples from other sales surfaced in the course of the discussion, for a total of four, all struck with the same obverse die.

11. Beckmann, op. cit., pp. 64-65.

12. This sounds impressive, but there are only two examples online: this specimen in the British Museum (BMCRE 929), and a specimen Bertolami attempted to sell three times. The dative case obverse die on the DIANA LVCIFERA sestertii is not an obverse die match to either.

Appendix: The Children of Faustina II

I have been studying well-researched secondary sources to learn more about Faustina's children. I have drawn new conclusions over the past few years about the birth order and identity of Faustina's children (the ancient sources are very vague and sometimes contradictory). I currently accept the names and birth orders outlined by Walter Ameling and by Barbara Levick. In light of the numismatic evidence, I have narrowed down some of the birth years more than they do. See Levick, Barbara. Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 115-117.

I currently accept the following (there is scholarly disagreement about the details). The empress delivered twelve children in eleven pregnancies:

1. Domitia Faustina, born 30 November 147. She was dead for sure by 161, but died most likely in 150 or 151.
2. Lucilla, born 7 March 149.
3. Faustina III, born 150/151. She survived until about 180/81.
4. T. Aelius Antoninus, born 152. Died in infancy/early childhood.
5. Son dead in infancy, late 157. He might have been T. Aelius Aurelius.
6. Fadilla, born 159. She survived Commodus.
7. Cornificia, born August 160. She survived until 212, when she was killed by Caracalla.
8. Twins T. Aurelius Fulvius Antoninus and L. Aurelius Commodus, born 31 August 161. The first-born twin died in infancy or early childhood.
9. M. Annius Verus, born towards the end of 162. He died at the age of 7 after having a tumor surgically removed from his head.
10. Hadrianus, born mid 163-164 (likely before Lucilla's marriage to Varus in 164). Still alive as "son of Emperor Marcus" in inscriptions from c. 180.
11. Vibia Sabina, born c. 170-171, who would have been the three-year-old at Sirmium when Herodes Atticus was there in 174.

 

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Thank you for another terrific Faustina Friday, @Roman Collector I always feel proud to be mentioned.

Before I get to my Diana Luciferas, I have some Faustina news: I finally got a copy of Beckmann's terrific book of Faustina II's portraits, die-studies etc. It is really well done; not just for the coins, but for Faustina's image, imperial ideals, etc. I'd recommend it for anybody interested in Faustina's coins or reign!

Here's the dative FAVSTINAE version referenced above. The theory that this is a mule for the MATRI CASTORVM type is compelling. Sometimes I get lucky - this was a completely random purchase, as always - it was an affordable sestertius, which is all I noticed about it. My photo is still poor; the coin is very dark, yet blotchy and very glossy, which always defeats me photographically:


Faustina II Æ Sestertius
(174-175 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);
(21.44 grams / 27 mm)
eBay May 2019 (France) $10.05
Attribution Notes:
Dinsdale 007295, otherwise unattested with dative obverse inscription;
cf. RIC 1630; BMCRE 899-900; Cohen 88; RCV 5272; MIR 8-6/10c.
(per Roman Collector, Coin Talk Oct. 4, 2021)

This next one came to me via the generosity of fellow CTer @tenbobbit part of a big batch he gifted me in 2020. It is a bit of a mystery to me; at 13.36 grams it would appear to be a dupondius, but I couldn't find one on OCRE - they only describe an as. This despite the fact one of their examples for RIC 1632 weighs over 18 grams! I'd say that's a sestertius, not that I'm qualified to correct the British Museum or the American Numismatic Society:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1913-1115-61
http://numismatics.org/ocre/id/ric.3.m_aur.1632

Although I am still pretty inexperienced when it comes to analyzing Faustina's hairdos, I will boldly agree that this is Beckmann Type 10, the last one used.


Faustina II Æ Dupondius
(161-176 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right / [DIANA LVCIFERA] -C, Diana standing right holding long torch in both hands.
RIC 1632 var. (dupondius)
(13.36 grams / 23 x 21 mm)
@tenbobbit Jan. 2020
Attribution Note:
This type is only listed in RIC as an as. But the weight of this specimen makes it likely it is a dupondius.
See: Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger E-Auction 420 Lot 5326 Nov. 18, 2017 dupondius (with stephane bust), weight 11.76 grams.
https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=4550011

I need to update the dates on my attributions for these; now that @Roman Collector and Beckmann have narrowed the date ranges.

 

Then there is my unofficial Denarius

An invention rather than an imitation

 

..ah..here it is...i wuz wonderin' if RC had neglected FF..but i C he didn't...another great thread sir!

 

@Roman Collector....Really enjoyed the write up and coins shown....I must say apart from our normal "No work" feeling of Friday I do look forward to your interesting threads!...Always come away having learnt something without having to work for it.......Appreciated!...Alas I have no Roman Diana....Hopefully you don't mind the Greek equivalent Artemis...
Aeolis, Kyme, c. 165-90 BC. Æ (16mm, 3.84g, 12h). Zoilos, magistrate.
Obverse...Draped bust of Artemis right, hair in sphendone, quiver and bow over shoulder.
Reverse...Single-handled oenoechoe (Kyme's cup) with KY above (Kyme), flanked either side by laurel branches.
Magistrates name left to right across central field Z-Ω / I-Λ / O-Σ..Zoilos.
SNG München 507-9; SNG Copenhagen 108; SNG von Aulock 1642.