Among my last win at CNG auction, from ex Phil Peck collection, photo credit by CNG. Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. Æ As (26.5mm, 10.40 g, 6h). Consecration issue. Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 146-161. Veiled and draped bust right, wearing hair bound in pearls on top of her head / Vesta standing left, holding long torch and sacrificing with patera over lighted altar to left. RIC III 1187 (Pius). Dark green patina, chipped in places, some roughness, marks, and deposits. VF. Bronze
That's a lovely coin, @oldfinecollector . This middle bronze of Faustina I was likely issued in AD 150/51 as part of a massive issue to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Faustina's death and consecration. It was issued with two bust types, a more common bare-headed and draped bust, right, and a scarcer veiled and draped bust, right. This particular reverse design only appears in the sestertius, dupondius, and as denominations. Here's my example of this issue: Faustina I, AD 138--140/41. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 11.73 g, 25 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 150/51. Obv: DIVA FAV-STINA, veiled and draped bust, right. Rev: CONSECRATIO S C, Vesta, veiled, draped, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over altar left and holding long lighted torch, vertical, in left. Refs: RIC 1187 B; BMCRE 1594; Cohen 164; RCV 4652 var.
You may read more about dating of issues, die-linkage studies, and about Diva Faustina's role in Roman society in: Beckmann, Martin. Diva Faustina: Coinage and Cult in Rome and the Provinces. American Numismatic Society, 2012 The most comprehensive reference to early Antonine coinage is authored by Coin Talk's own @paulus_dinius : Dinsdale, Paul H. Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Caesar AD 138-161: Antonine Coinage. Leeds, Paul H Dinsdale, 2018. You may access chapters on middle and late Antonine coinage at Paul's website.
