Faustina Junior (Augusta, 147-175). Orichalcum Sestertius (31mm, 21.68g, 12h). Rome, 161-4. Obverse FAVSTINA AVGVSTA: Bust of Faustina the Younger, draped, sometimes diademed, hair elaborately waved in nearly vertical lines and fastened in a low chignon at back of head, down cheek, curls, right Reverse SAECVLI FELICIT S C: Throne (pulvinar), draped and ornamented, on which are two baby boys, Commodus and Antoninus, seated face to face, with stars above their heads RIC III 1665. Sear 5282, Cohen 193. BMC 937.
Antoninus must have been the name of Commodus’ twin - he didn't last very long. Totally unique reverse - no one else ever used it. I wonder who ok’d or suggested doing reverses? All those children and so few survived. A sign of the times - an age of plague, war, sickness and fatalism. Marcus Aurelius commented on children dying in his “Meditations” - something about having to get used to it as another child gets a cough. I have to find the quote - had to be disheartening when only four of 12 live - and who is one of them? - Commodus, a complete disaster since he was too young and too stupid. Caracalla’s execution of the last surviving daughter is also very sad.
They were born in 161 ad, Antoninus being the older twin by mere minutes. He died in 164ad. There is a quote in Meditations As you kiss your son good night, whisper to yourself, “He may be dead in the morning.”
Funny, I too bought a Faustina Junior coin, as my first ancient piece in 2025, as well although it is a denarius. Denarius of Faustina II, his wife, Obverse: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA “Faustina augusta.” Reverse: FECVNDITAS “Fecunditas” holding a child, personification for the fertility of the empress. Sear 5252. Her husband, Marcus Aurelius was quite devoted to her, even though she had a racy reputation. She seems to have had a thing for sailors and gladiators. According to David Sear, the rumors persisted enough to make them credible. Late in life, she was implicated in another plot to overthrow her husband. When it appeared that Marcus’ health was failing, it was claimed that she plotted with the Roman general, Cassius, to take charge. The odd part is that such a move would have cut out Faustina's own son, Commodus, from "taking the purple." Given the way Commodus turned out as an emperior, that might have been for the best.