A couple weeks ago I filled a hole that I truthfully never expected to be able to fill. She arrived earlier this morning, and my Severan dynasty set now has at least coin of every emperor and empress of that dynasty! The coin: Annia Faustina, 3rd wife of Elagabalus Mid-Late 221 AD AE23, Hierapolis, Phrygia ANNIA ΦAVCTEINA CEB, Draped bust right, wearing stephane; C/M: Venus holding apple? IEΡAΠOΛEITΩN NEΩKOΡΩN, Wreath with A-KTI-A in three lines Minted for Actian Games Annia Faustina was the great-granddaughter of Marcus Aurelius' sister, and was one of the last members of that prestigious dynasty, most of whom had been wiped out by either the Antonine Plague, or else from Caracalla's purges of suspected Geta sympathizers. She was a wealthy heiress, inheriting her parents' estates and marrying the senator Pomponius Bassus. They had two children together, Pomponia Ummidia, and Pomponius Bassus, both of whom led long and prestigious lives during the later Crisis years. In 221, her husband was killed on orders of Elagabalus, and she was forced into marrying the deranged young emperor, in a move orchestrated by Julia Maesa as damage control after the scandalous marriage to Aquilia Severa. The couple were wed in about July 221, and by the end of the year, Elagabalus decided to stand up to his grandmother, divorcing Annia Faustina and returning to Aquilia Severa. Thankfully, both Annia and her two young children were spared and allowed to return to their lives as private citizens. I couldn't resist the urge to break them all out for a big, dysfunctional family portrait! First: - Septimius Severus, as Augustus - Julia Domna, as Augusta - Clodius Albinus, as Caesar - Caracalla, as Caesar - Geta, as Caesar - Plautilla Second: - Divus Septimius Severus - Caracalla, as Augustus - Geta, as Augustus - Julia Domna, as Pia Felix Third: - Macrinus - Diadumenian Fourth: - Elagabalus - Julia Paula - Julia Aquilia Severa - Annia Faustina - Julia Soaemias - Julia Maesa Fifth: - Severus Alexander, as Caesar - Severus Alexander, as Augustus - Julia Mamaea - Orbiana That covers every title held by every member of the imperial family, except: - Divus Caracalla (Looking for one) - Diadumenian as Augustus (Looking for one) - Diva Julia Domna (Out of price range) - Diva Julia Maesa (Likely out of price range) Thanks for looking! As always, feel free to post those Annia Faustinas, Severans, or anything related!
Likely? I might point out that my Caracalla is a die match with a better one I saw offered a few years back. I probably should have bought it when I saw it. Keep looking and best wishes. I will be anxious to see yours. The devil in me might point out that Septimius reverse adopted himself into the family of Pertinax and later Marcus Aurelius and even issued coins in the name of Pertinax (DIVO PERT PIVS PATER is not easy to afford). What I see in your photo is a really nice set of coins just begging more friends over to play. It never ends.
WOW, @Finn235 , GREAT JOB amassing that super collection. Congrats. LOL, you know MY feeling about that dysfunctional murder (think group of black crows) of sub-humans! However, in my mind, I separate the COINS from the humans they represent. Well done!
Thanks all! And a nice DIVO ANTONINO MAGNO there, Doug! To elaborate on the missing coins: - Divus Pertinax is on my "maybe eventually" list, although I don't strictly consider it part of the Severan dynasty. Those are very rare issues, and I would probably upgrade my lifetime Pertinax before I could justify a posthumous one. - Ditto with Divus Commodus, although I find that issue so fascinating that I would likely jump on one as soon as it came up for sale. - Divus Caracalla by Elagabalus is quite rare, although rougher examples can be affordable. - Imperial issues for Diadumenian as Augustus are rare enough to make the EID MAR series blush - I think only about a dozen are known in all conditions? However, there are provincials floating about, are not often identified as such, and thus don't go for much premium. - I have only seen a handful of Diva Julia Domna, and have never seen one sell for under $1,000. - Diva Julia Maesa is a little less rare; CNG sold one a few years ago for $320, which is low enough for me to at least take a nibble.
@Finn235 .....Wonderful group and a great achievement!....Some lovely coins in there....Great pick up on the Annia Faustina, love the little c/m! Congrats....I know it's taken a lot of work and time....Paul
An impressive collection - I am still missing several but do have this DIVVS PERT PIVS PATER bare head right. Rev: CONSECRATIO