Faustina I denarius -- scarce AETERNITAS type

This is really a fascinating thread; thank you all so much for sharing your knowledge.

May I ask why the uncertainty (Mattingly, Temeryazev and Makarenko, Cohen, ...) in the first place, when on all these DIVA FAVSTINA the reverse legend is AETERNITAS ?

 

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Because the AETERNITAS series includes many coins with goddesses who have identifying attributes, such as Ceres, Juno, and Pietas. The coins were issued to commemorate the empress's ten year death anniversary. That's what AETERNITAS refers to, not the identity of the goddess on the reverse.

Fortuna:


Juno:


Providentia:



Pietas:


Juno's Pulvinar and peacock:

 

Thank you so much @Roman Collector for your explanation. I'm always very grateful for answers

 

This was indeed an informative and enjoyable thread. Just to jump in with the AETERNITAS legend on the reverses as mentioned in RC's last post above. On his last coin, there is a throne on the reverse with the legend AETERNITAS - for the 10th anniversary of her death.

Here is a similar reverse (no peacock) but with the AVGVSTA legend - which, I think, represents the fifth anniversary of Faustina's deification... or please correct me if I am wrong on this - I have only just begun to figure out this stuff.



Faustina I Denarius
5th Phase: Anniversary of Faustina’s Deification
(c. 150-160 A.D.)
DIVA FAVSTIN[A], draped bust right / AVGV[ST]A, throne, on which is a wreath,
with a sceptre in front.
RIC 377; RSC 131; BMC 454.
(2.89 grams / 16 mm)

 

Yep. 5th death anniversary.

 

If the Augusta coins are on the 5th anniversary, and Aeternitas on the 10th, are the ones with varied legends such as Juno from the first issue? Or is it not as simple as that? @Roman Collector

 

It's not quite as simple. Dinsdale* has identified 5 phases for her posthumous issues, based upon die-linkage studies initiated by Martin Beckmann: AD 140, AD 143, AD 145, AD 147, and AD 150. In reality, it may be even more complicated than this, but as these coins are undated, this is the most detailed treatment of the chronology so far. There are several coins Dinsdale hasn't been able to assign with certainty because there were no die-matches to those in Beckmann's study.

*Dinsdale, Paul H. Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Caesar AD 138-161: Antonine Coinage. Leeds, Paul H Dinsdale, 2018.

 

Is that a book or an article RC? Do you know where I can get hold of it? Googling is not proving useful and wants to point me back to this thread exclusively.

 

It's a book.

 

This guide is available online - I think I got the link originally from a CT post - I'm not sure what the copyright status is on this - it appears to be a book excerpt:

http://romanpaulus.x10host.com/Antoninus/07 - Diva Faustina I - Undated 140-161 (med_res).pdf