Some issues show some interesting and intricate hairstyle creations. Show them so we can see them. I will start us off with a Faustina I.
Faustina was the Queen of the elaborate middle-Roman Imperial hairstyles! But not quite the "undisputed Queen" -- many others vied for the wildest and weirdest hair. I posted several of my weird-haired Empress Sestertii here (Faustina I, Otacilia, Julia Domna, Julia Mamaea): https://www.cointalk.com/threads/matidia-augusta-divae-marcianae.407838/#post-24717248 A couple of others from her daughter, Faustina the Younger: AR Denarius, Rome, 161-176 CE. RIC 686. I like this one, on which she's wearing a crescent on her forehead! Hierapolis-Castabala AE29, c. 161-180 CE. Host: RPC (IV) 4976.6 (this coin); SNG von Aulock 5572 (this coin); SNG Levante 1586 (this coin); Robert 27, pl. XXVI No. 77 (this coin). Countermark: Howgego 686 (this coin cited) There are several hairdressers out there who specialize in recreating ancient Roman women's hairstyles. If you search around, you'll readily find may others, including the artists' websites, but here's an article from Smithsonian Magazine: This Woman is a Hairstyle Archaeologist. The Wikipedia page also shows some of the marble busts that give great 3-D renderings: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_hairstyles
FaustaA.D. 324- 326 19mm 3.1g FAVSTA N F; draped bust right. REV: eight rayed star in laurel wreath. RIC VII Thessalonica 51
That is a very realistic/humanistic portrait with a very elaborate hairstyle. Never seen that issue before, thanks for sharing.
I love the anepigraphic reverse. Such a sharp Fausta. I was gonna post mine from my old collection (all of these posted have been from my old 2007-08 novice collection), but my Fausta just wasn’t much to look at.
Sabina, wife of Hadrian, on a much-circulated denarius I bought in the Middle East Faustina I, the deceased wife of Antoninus Pius. She is veiled to suggest the idea of Pietas, piety : in Rome men and women were supposed to cover their head when performing sacrifices or any religious duty. On this coin she wears her veil like many elegant women today in islamic countries: just covering the back of her head... Faustina II, Marcus Aurelius' wife. Her hairstyle is rather simple, a mere chignon, without any diadem or stephane. I'm sure this was the simple style her philosopher husband could appreciate. Julia Domna, Septimius Severus' wife, mother of Caracalla and Geta, and my favourite Roman empress. She had several hairstyles during her career as an empress, and I wonder if it was her natural very long hair or if she wore wigs, like a British judge. Plautilla, Julia Domna's daughter in law. She has a very simple hairstyle, which is suitable for a young person of only 14. She would later switch to another hairstyle more like Julia Domna's and other matronae. Salonina, Gallienus' wife. Her hairstyle is the standard hairstyle of all 3rd century empresses and noble women since Julia Mamaea in the 220s. Helena, Constantine's mother. Her hairstyle is difficult to figure and describe, it's probably because the die-cutter dis not really understand it. Aelia Flacilla, Theodosius' wife and mother of Honorius and Arcadius. With her pearl-diadem and conspicuous necklace, she looks very different of Faustina II... Eudoxia, wife of Arcadius. She has exactly the same hairstyle as her mother-in-law. But it is likely that the celators cutting the dies just wanted to show a standard empress: in fact, it may be Aelia Flacilla's portrait with the name EVDOXIA written over it.
Magnia Urbica, AE Antoninianus. Obv:– MAGNIA VRBICA AVG, Draped bust right on crescent, hair brushed in straight lines, plait carried up the back to top of head and running under stephane Rev:– VENVS GENETRIX, Venus standing facing, head left, apple upward in right hand, vertical scepter in left Minted in Lugdunum (A in left field). RIC V pt. 2, 337 var (not listed from this officina). Bastien -, Bastien Supplement -, Bastien Supplement II 613α (2 examples cited) 23mm, 3.16g
Otacilia Severa (Augusta, 244-249). Coele-Syria, Heliopolis. Æ (31mm, 13.53g, 6h). Diademed and draped bust r., Set on crescent. R / Propylaeum of temple of Jupiter Heliopolitanus. BMC 20, 23; Price-Trell 162, fig. 284.
Here's Sabina with an unusual 'do: Sabina Æ 20 Blaundus, Lydia/Phrygia (128-136/7 A.D.) Ϲ[ΑΒƐΙΝΑ ϹƐ]ΒΑϹΤ[Η], draped bust right, with hair coiled and piled on top of head above double stephane / [ΒΛΑΥΝ]ΔƐΩ[Ν], Demeter standing left, holding corn-ears with poppy and sceptre (5.00 grams / 20 x 18 mm) eBay Sep. 2023 Attribution from Wildwinds: RPC III 2450; BMC 73; SNG Copenhagen 92; Weber 6798; Waddington 4920; Waddington, Voyages, (Lydia), 3; SNG Munich 90; GRPC Lydia 107. Die-Match Obverse: Bucephalus Numismatic Auction 15; Lot 847; 10.02.2023
