Faustina Friday – The IVNO Issue of Faustina the Younger

TGIFF, everyone!!

A month ago, I discussed the coins of Faustina's massive IVNONI REGINAE issue. If you'll recall, I dated the coins of that issue depicting Juno standing to AD 162-164 based on hairstyle. This week's installment of Faustina Friday will be devoted to a subsequent issue of nearly identical designs but bearing the reverse inscription IVNO.

The IVNO standing left issue, like its IVNONI REGINAE predecessor, was a massive issue and was struck in the aureus, denarius, sestertius, and middle bronze denominations. On this issue, Faustina appears wearing any of her final three hairstyles. She may be bare-headed, or she may wear a stephane or one or two bands of pearls in her hair. She may face left on the denarius. In contrast, the coinage depicting the goddess enthroned was limited to the denarius denomination and she is only depicted facing right, wearing pearls on the Beckmann type 7 hairstyle or bare-headed on the Beckmann type 9 hairstyle.

Overall, the coins of Faustina with IVNO standing reverse types are quite commonly encountered in the numismatic trade. The sheer number of these coins and the variety of bust types that appear on them suggests they were issued in large quantities over a period of perhaps three to five years. Dating them, however, is tricky, because the aureus of this reverse type is known from two examples,[1] only one of which was available for Beckmann to examine for his die-linkage study of Faustina's aurei. Thus, it's unclear how much information based upon a single aureus can be generalized to the numerous silver and bronze coins with this reverse type.

The denarius of the IVNO seated type is less commonly encountered in the numismatic trade (Temeryazev and Makarenko rate them "scarce."[2]) and, given the more limited range of bust types and hairstyles, it appears to have been issued in more limited quantities and for a shorter period of time. Moreover, because it was not issued in the aureus denomination, it falls outside the purview of Beckmann's die linkage study of Faustina's aurei and is therefore difficult to date.

Here are some coins in my collection illustrating the various varieties and denominations of this reverse type. This listing does not illustrate the aureus, nor is it exhaustive in terms of bust types and hairstyles found on the various denominations.

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 2.78 g, 18.2 mm, 11 h.
Rome, AD 166-170.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Faustina II, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, strand of pearls in hair.
Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 688; BMCRE 107, 108, 111; RSC 120a; RCV 5255; CRE 188.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.01 g, 19.6 mm, 1 h.
Rome, AD 166-170.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Faustina II, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, wearing stephane.
Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 688 var. (stephane); BMCRE 109; RSC 120b; RCV 5255 var. (stephane); CRE 189.​

Faustina Jr, AD 147-175.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.42 g, 17.6 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 166-170.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 9 hairstyle.
Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock.
Refs: RIC 688; BMC 106; Cohen 120; RCV 5255; CRE 188.​

Faustina Jr, AD 147-175.
Roman AR Denarius, 3.54 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 169-170.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 10 hairstyle.
Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock.
Refs: RIC 688; BMC 105; Cohen 120; RCV 5255; CRE 190.​

Faustina Jr, AD 147-175.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.44 g, 30.4 mm, 12 h.
Rome, AD 166-170.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Faustina II, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, wearing stephane.
Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock.
Refs: RIC 1646; BMC 917; Cohen 122; RCV 5276.​

Faustina Jr, AD 147-175.
Roman Æ as or dupondius, 12.76 g, 24.7 mm, 6 h.
Rome, AD 166-170.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust of Faustina II, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, double strand of pearls in hair.
Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock.
Refs: RIC 1647; BMCRE 983-84; Cohen 123; RCV 5297.​

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman AR denarius, 3.18 g, 17.1 mm, 7 h.
Rome, AD 165-168.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle.
Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled and draped, seated left, holding patera in extended right hand and vertical scepter in left hand; at her feet, peacock.
Refs: RIC 689; BMCRE 112-15; RSC 126; RCV –; CRE 184.​

Dating the issues

I think we are on safe ground when assigning a relative chronology between the IVNONI REGINAE standing reverse type and the IVNO standing reverse type: the IVNONI REGINAE reverse type was issued earlier. The IVNONI REGINAE standing version is not known with Beckmann type 9 hairstyle, but is known with the earlier type 5 hairstyle, whereas the IVNO standing version is not known with the earlier type 5 hairstyle but is known with the final type 10 hairstyle.

Establishing an absolute chronology is only possible because the reverse design was used on the aureus version of the IVNO issue. Beckmann's die study of her aurei indicates the reverse type appears on the aurei in AD 166.

Beckmann's Group 18 demonstrates an obverse die linkage between an aureus of the IVNO reverse type and one with the HILARITAS reverse type, convincingly dated to AD 166 to celebrate the Roman victory over the Parthians in that year.[3] On the obverse of the IVNO reverse type, the empress is depicted sporting the Beckmann type 9 hairstyle.​

However, an examination of the empress' hairstyles on both the silver and bronze issues demonstrates the empress appears in her final, type 10 hairstyle. This hairstyle does not appear on aurei until after the death of Lucius Verus in AD 169.[4] Therefore, the issue was in production through at least that year. A date of AD 166-170 seems reasonable for the coins depicting the empress in her type 7 and type 9 hairstyles and a date of AD 169-170 for those depicting the empress in the type 10 hairstyle.

It is a much more daunting task to assign a chronology to the IVNO seated reverse type. This reverse type, like its IVNONI REGINAE counterpart, was only issued in the denarius denomination, meaning it cannot be dated by means of Beckmann's die-linkage study of the aurei. We must rely on stylistic concerns, which is much more subject to error. The IVNO seated version of the coin typically has the type 7 hairstyle but is well-known with the type 9 hairstyle. Szaivert suggests the appearance of this hairstyle coincides with Lucilla's marriage to Lucius Verus in AD 164.[5] This is consistent with Beckmann's dating of the type 9 hairstyle, which appears at the very end of his die-linkage chain 7.[6].

It seems likely that, as with the IVNO standing version of the coin, the IVNO enthroned version was issued after its IVNONI REGINAE counterpart, but this has in no way been proven. Did the IVNO seated version of the coin appear before the standing version of the coin? Was it issued alongside the IVNO standing version? Even a relative chronology is impossible to establish. I assign the IVNO enthroned reverse type a date of AD 165-168 accordingly, to allow for the possibility of it being issued before the IVNO standing type as well as acknowledging the possibility of simultaneous production of the two types. Production of the coin certainly had ceased, however, by the time the empress' final hairstyle was introduced no earlier than AD 169.

The purpose of the issue

The issue does not appear to have been issued to commemorate any specific event in the life of Faustina the Younger; rather, it appears to be what is termed an allegorical type. As with the IVNO issues of her mother,[7] the IVNO issues of Faustina the Younger imply that the empress is queen on earth, just as Juno is queen of the gods.[8]

Let's see your coins of Juno, Faustina Jr, or whatever you feel is relevant!

~~~

Notes

1. Cohen (no. 119) cites a specimen in Paris; Cohen, in turn, is cited by RIC (no. 687) and BMCRE4 (104n). Calicó illustrates a second example but does not cite the source. It’s apparent upon examination of the photographs that the specimen illustrated and cited by Beckmann (pp. 62 and 198) as Rollin & Feuardent, 20-28 April 1896, lot 409 is the same coin illustrated by Calicó.

2. Temeryazev, S. A., and T. P. Makarenko. The Coinage of Roman Empresses. San Bernardino, CreateSpace, 2017, no. 184, p. 65.

3. Beckmann, Martin, Faustina the Younger: Coinage, Portraits, and Public Image, A.N.S. Numismatic Studies 43, American Numismatic Society, New York, 2021, p. 63.

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

5. Szaivert, Wolfgang, Die Münzprägung der Kaiser Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus und Commodus (161/192), Moneta Imperii Romani 18. Vienna, 1989, no. 19-7(a), p. 231. Specifically, Szaivert writes, "Die vielgestaltige Venus-Prägung erlaubt einen Bezug zur Hochzeit der Tochter der Faustina (Lucilla) mit dem regierenden zweiten Augustus Lucius Verus anzunehmen."

6. Beckmann, op. cit., p. 60.

7. Mattingly, Harold. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian, British Museum, 1966, p. lii.

8. Mattingly, op. cit., p. cxxxi.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I have only 1 "plain" IVNO, from Crispina.


It's a pity the reverse die was at or after the end of its life but I still like this denarius.
CRISPINA AVGVSTA, bust of Crispina, draped, hair in round coil at back, right / IVNO, Juno, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and sceptre in left hand; at left, peacock

RIC III Commodus 283

 

What about a Juno from Faustina senior:

 

JUNO / IVNO


Campania CAPUA
AE Semuncia
215-212 BCE
Diademed and draped bust of Juno r., with sceptre over l. shoulder.
Rev. KAPV in Oscan characters Two xoana draped; to l., triple knot.
Sambon 1038. Giard 17. SNG ANS 215. Historia Numorum Italy 495.
Hannibal capital Italia
RARE

 

Fridays should be National Faustina Education Day. Thanks again RC.

I have but one of these "Plain IVNO" types, as sestertius similar to the OP, but with a strand of pearls. I have updated my attribution here in keeping with the Faustina Friday info:


Faustina II Æ Sestertius
(c. 166- 170 A.D.)
Rome Mint
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, strings of pearls in hair / IV[NO], S-C, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet.
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1645;Cohen 121.
(23.44 grams / 28 x 26 mm)
eBay Sep. 2020
Issue Notes: "...Therefore, the issue was in production through at least that year (L. Verus death in AD 169). A date of AD 166-170 seems reasonable for the coins depicting the empress in her type 7 and type 9 hairstyles and a date of AD 169-170 for those depicting the empress in the type 10 hairstyle."
Roman Collector CT Feb. 2022

 

What a fascinating write-up! I always enjoy Faustina Friday.

Below is my Juno denarius of Faustina II. I am bad at distinguishing between the different hairstyles. Would this be Beckmann type 7?

Faustina II, Roman Empire, denarius, 161–175 AD, Rome mint. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA; bust of Faustina II, draped, r. Rev: IVNO, Iuno standing l., holding patera and sceptre, peacock at feet l. 18mm, 2.94g. Ref: RIC III Marcus Aurelius 688.

 

Here are some IVNOs in my small Faustina collection.

 

Yes, it is the type 7 hairstyle!

 

Lovely examples! The bronze is particularly attractive.