Post anything you feel is relevant! This particular issue of Faustina I, depicting Pietas with her hands upturned in supplication, is scarce. While a handful of museum collections have an example of this coin,[1] no examples are to be found at acsearchinfo or Wildwinds. Pietas was a common motif on the coins issued for this empress. She appears on coins with the DIVA AVG FAVSTINA as well as DIVA FAVSTINA obverse inscriptions, with bare-headed and veiled busts, and with various reverse inscriptions, such as AVGVSTA, PIETAS AVG, and PIETAS AVGVST. She appears right-facing and left facing, raising both hands, or left-facing and holding her hand over a lighted altar or candelabrum with her right hand and holding a box of incense in her left or holding the left hand at her breast.[2] Many of these varieties are scarce to rare. Dating is uncertain. The ANS dates the coin to AD 141, whereas Dinsdale (p. 215; @paulus_dinius ) notes a die-linkage of one of the PIETAS types to a COS III aureus of Antoninus Pius, establishing a possible date of AD 143-145, corresponding to the second phase of issues for the empress to commemorate the dedication of the temple to Diva Faustina. Faustina I, AD 138-141. Roman AR denarius. Rome, AD 141-145. Obv: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, bust of Faustina I, veiled and draped, right. Rev: PIETAS AVG, Pietas, veiled and draped, standing facing, head right, by lighted altar, raising both hands. Refs: RIC 392; BMCRE 308; RSC 251b; Strack 430; RCV --; CRE 109; Dinsdale 019460. Notes: Double die-match to ANS 1941.131.831. Here is the ANS specimen for comparison: ~~~ 1. The British Museum, the Staatliches Münzkabinett in Munich, the Staatliches Münzkabinett in Vienna, the Nationalmuseum in Rome, and the American Numismatic Society. 2. RSC 124, 124a, 234, 234a, 234b, 236, 237, 251, 251a, 251b.
Stunning portrait! Here’s my best denarius: Diva Faustina Senior wife of Antoninus Pius (141 BCE). Silver denarius (3.69 gm). Ca. 147-161. DIVA FAV—STINA, draped bust of Diva Faustina right with jewels in her hair / AETER-NITAS, Aeternitas or Juno standing facing, head left, raising right hand and holding scepter. BMCRE 345. RIC
Very interesting now that I got the RSC will learn more. What a pity that RIC are so expensive books too much for me.
Always good to see your latest and greatest Faustina, RC. That's a beauty. Inspired by your post, I have delved into my collection and found the following Faustina I's featuring Pietas - as you noted, that was indeed a popular type: As - RIC 1161 Denarius - RIC 374 (I think this one is "scarce"?); Denarius - RIC 394a Denarius - RIC 395Ca Dupondius - RIC 1192Aa Sestertius - RIC 1146Aa (not veiled) Sestertius RIC 1146Ac (veiled) Sestertius - RIC 1127
@Roman Collector.....Lovely coin!..Looks like the veiled Pietas is asking 'Who turned out the light'?.. Suddenly realised I only have ONE Faustina I coin in my whole collection!....How can that happen?....Something I'll have to rectify in the very near future....Here she is... Diva Faustina Sr, AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 18mm, 3.08 grams. Obverse..DIVA-FAVSTINA, draped bust right Reverse..AETER-NITAS, Aeternitas, standing front, facing left, holding globe, veil billowing out around her head and behind her. RIC 351, RSC 32, BMC 373
Got 3 , 2 denarii and 1 As , here the 2 denarii RIC 370 RIC 381b Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. AR Denarius (16mm, 3.50 g, 6h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 141-146. Draped bust right, wearing hair bound in pearls on top of her head / Antoninus Pius, holding volumen, and Diva Faustina, holding scepter, standing facing each other, clasping right hands. RIC III 381b (Pius); RSC 159. Toned, numerous shallow scratches on obverse under tone. VF. Ex Phil Peck Collection
