Ha! This week's Franklin's World features a very gravid Faustina II! Of course, the cartoon reminds me of this coin: Faustina II, AD 147-175. Roman oricalchum dupondius, 12.45 gm, 27.1 mm, 12 h. Rome, AD 157-161. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right. Rev: FECVND AVGVSTAE S C, (Faustina as) Fecunditas standing left, between two children (thought to represent Faustina III and Lucilla), holding two infants in her arms (thought to represent Commodus and Antoninus). Refs: RIC 1636; BMCRE 977-979; Cohen 97; RCV 5294. Notes: Ex-Henry Chapman, 1921. Post your Fecunditas coins!
She was certainly unusually fertile! My two Fecunditas reverses are both of Julia Domna: Julia Domna AR denarius, 19.5mm, 3.17 gm, 6h. Rome mint Struck under Septimius Severus, circa AD 207-211 Obv: IVLIA AVGVSTA; draped bust right Rev: Fecunditas or Tellus (Earth) reclining left under tree, resting arm on basket of fruit and placing hand on celestial orb; standing before her are four children representing the Four Seasons Ref: RIC IV 549 (Septimius Severus); RSC 35
i have one.. Faustina Jr., AR denarius, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA Diademed and draped bust right. / FECVN DITAS Fecunditas standing right, holding scepter and infant. The infant on the reverse may be seen as Commodus. RIC III 677
Has anyone ever investigated into whether the Fecvnditas issues of Faustina II actually depict her living children, or if they were merely accessories to the allegorical Fecunditas? I know Wikipedia claims the various issues celebrate specific births, but I have my doubts... I have only one FECVNDITAS reverse, ironically of the mother of an only child! This is for the moment my only Faustina II, one of my favorite reverse types, said to commemorate the births of Commodus and Antoninus
