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The first issue for Faustina I, AD 138
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<p>[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 4888766, member: 75937"]There is no record outside of the numismatic evidence of when Faustina was declared Augusta, but it must have been within months of Antoninus Pius' accession to the throne on 11 July 138 but before he assumed the title of Pater Patriae by 1 March 139.[1] During this brief period, a small issue of denarii in her husband's name was issued for Faustina inscribed FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG with no mention of P P (Pater Patriae) in the titulature. This first issue of Faustina I appears to be limited to denarii, for no gold or bronze coins lacking P P in their inscriptions are known. There follows a second issue with the obverse FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG P P, followed by a third running down to the death of Faustina I, late in AD 140, with the obverse FAVSTINA AVGVSTA.[2]</p><p><br /></p><p>The coins of this first issue consist of three or four reverse types, depending on how significant one considers variations in the design of the Concordia seated type.[3] These types are: CONCORDIA AVG with Concordia seated left, holding a patera, and with a cornucopiae under or as part of her throne, CONCORDIA AVG with Concordia standing left, leaning against a column and holding a patera and double cornucopiae, and VESTA, with Vesta seated left, holding a palladium and scepter.</p><p><br /></p><p>These types have symbolic meaning. Mattingly explains, "Concordia unites Emperor and Empress in a bond of loyalty and devotion. Her double cornucopiae is the royal glory of the kings and queens of Egypt. The cornucopiae below her seat is a sign of the Golden Age … the column on which she leans is the special emblem of Securitas," while "Vesta, with the palladium, is the Vesta of the special shrine on the Palatine – the object of the worship of the Empress as wife of the Pontifex Maximus."[4]</p><p><br /></p><p>Coins of the first issue are exceedingly rare, with only a dozen examples known of all three reverse types put together. No coins of this first issue were found in the Reka Devnia hoard, Strack 391-393 knew only five denarii of this whole issue, and few have appeared in the auction market in the past quarter century. After an exhaustive search of auction archives and online databases, I believe the coins listed below represent the complete inventory of specimens online or museum specimens cited in the major print references.</p><p><br /></p><p>I was fortunate enough to have recently acquired an example of one of these elusive coins. I am also fortunate to have made the acquaintance of Paul Dinsdale <a href="https://www.cointalk.com/members/110988/" class="internalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.cointalk.com/members/110988/">@paulus_dinius</a> , who generously shared his extensive files of previous auction sales and provided me with photos from the plates of numismatic references that are not in my own library. I am deeply indebted to Paul for his time and expertise and consider him a co-author of this thread.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Type 1: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and with a cornucopiae under or as part of her throne.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The specimen in my collection:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1179790[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Faustina I, AD 138-140. </font></p><p><font size="3">Roman AR denarius, 2.85 g, 16.6 mm, 5 h. </font></p><p><font size="3">Rome, first issue, AD 138-139. </font></p><p><font size="3">Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG, bare-headed and draped bust of Fautina, right. </font></p><p><font size="3">Rev: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting left arm on throne, cornucopiae under chair. </font></p><p><font size="3">Refs: British Museum 1978, 0314.2; cf. Strack 391 (Ashmolean), Hunter 1 (GLAHM 26918). RIC --; Cohen --; RCV --; CRE --. </font></p><p><font size="3">Notes: BMC p. 8* cites Strack 392 in error; RSC 146b correctly cites Strack 391 and cites BMC p.8*.</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Strack notes one specimen of this type, to which he assigns catalog number 391, with the vague description: Concordia seated to l. (cornucopiae) with patera. He cites the specimen from the Sir Charles Oman collection, Oxford (below)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1179796[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Strack pl. 6, 391 = Sir Charles Oman collection, Oxford</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Paul Dinsdale and I believe this coin to be an ancient imitative issue – note the atypical portrait and its crude rendition of the empress’s hairstyle.</p><p><br /></p><p>An example with a better claim to being an official issue is the specimen in the Hunterian Museum (GLAHM 26918) = Hunter 1 (illustrated below)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1179794[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">Hunter pl. 67, 1</font></p><p><br /></p><p>Note the lack of the throne-like back on the chair, and that the elbow rests directly on the cornucopiae; the area below the chair is vacant.</p><p><br /></p><p>There are two other known examples with the Concordia seated reverse type. On these, Concordia is depicted resting her left elbow on the arm of her throne; the throne has a back rest and the cornucopiae is placed below the seat.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1179797[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">British Museum (<a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1978-0314-2" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1978-0314-2" rel="nofollow">1978,0314.2</a>)</font></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1179790[/ATTACH]</p><p><font size="3">The OP coin, which is an obverse die-match to the specimen in the British Museum.</font></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Type 2: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia standing left, leaning against a column, and holding a patera and double cornucopiae.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Strack notes two specimens of this type, to which he assigns catalog number 392: Paris 5484 (shown below), and a second from the Osiek hoard, which eventually was obtained for the British Museum Collection (<a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1938-0310-1" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1938-0310-1" rel="nofollow">1938,0310.1</a>).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1179798[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>There are, in addition, the following specimens:</p><p><br /></p><p>Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (Electronic Auction 202), 14.1.2009, lot 287</p><p>Numismatik Lanz München (Auction 159), 8.12.2014, lot 472</p><p>London Ancient Coins Ltd (Auction 46), 12.10.2015, lot 235</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Type 3: VESTA, Vesta seated left holding Palladium and scepter.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Strack notes two specimens of this type, to which he assigns catalog number 393: The British museum specimen (<a href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1912-0710-221" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1912-0710-221" rel="nofollow">BMCRE 37</a>) and Vienna (11165), which is cited by Cohen (285). <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=279254" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=279254" rel="nofollow">A third recorded example</a> appeared in Gemini Auction II (lot 441, 11 January 2006), illustrated below:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1179799[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Given the great rarity of these first issue coins, I don’t expect anyone to post additional examples, so post anything you feel is relevant!</p><p><br /></p><p>~~~</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Bibliography</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Cohen, Henry. <i>Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire Romain, </i>Tome III:<i> de Marc Aurèle à Albin (161 à 197 après J.-C.).</i> Paris, 1883.</p><p><br /></p><p>Dinsdale, Paul H. <i>Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Caesar AD 138-161: Antonine Coinage.</i> Leeds, Paul H Dinsdale, 2018.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mattingly, Harold, <i>Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, </i>vol. IV:<i> Antoninus Pius to Commodus. Introduction, indexes and plates. </i>London, BMP, 1968.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mattingly, Harold; Sydenham, Edward A, <i>The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 3: Antoninus Pius to Commodus</i>, London, Spink, 1986.</p><p><br /></p><p>Robertson, Anne S. <i>Roman Imperial Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet: University of Glasgow</i> vol. 2, <i>Trajan to Commodus</i>. London, Oxford University Press, 1971.</p><p><br /></p><p>Strack, Paul L. <i>Untersuchungen Zur Romischen Reichspragung Des Zweiten Jahrhunderts</i>. vol. 3, Die Reichsprägung zur Zeit des Antoninus Pius. Stuttgart, Kohlhammer, 1937.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Notes:</b></p><p><br /></p><p>1. Mattingly, p. xxxii, n. 2 cites Dessau, Hermann, <i>Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae</i> 2182 as demonstrating P P appears in a Latin inscription dated to 1 March, 139.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Mattingly, pp. xl-xli and xlv.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Strack 191, 192, 193; BMCRE 36, 37, p.8*; RSC 146b, 153a, 285; Dinsdale, however, lists four: 008000, 008010, 008020, 008030.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. Mattingly, p. lii.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 4888766, member: 75937"]There is no record outside of the numismatic evidence of when Faustina was declared Augusta, but it must have been within months of Antoninus Pius' accession to the throne on 11 July 138 but before he assumed the title of Pater Patriae by 1 March 139.[1] During this brief period, a small issue of denarii in her husband's name was issued for Faustina inscribed FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG with no mention of P P (Pater Patriae) in the titulature. This first issue of Faustina I appears to be limited to denarii, for no gold or bronze coins lacking P P in their inscriptions are known. There follows a second issue with the obverse FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG P P, followed by a third running down to the death of Faustina I, late in AD 140, with the obverse FAVSTINA AVGVSTA.[2] The coins of this first issue consist of three or four reverse types, depending on how significant one considers variations in the design of the Concordia seated type.[3] These types are: CONCORDIA AVG with Concordia seated left, holding a patera, and with a cornucopiae under or as part of her throne, CONCORDIA AVG with Concordia standing left, leaning against a column and holding a patera and double cornucopiae, and VESTA, with Vesta seated left, holding a palladium and scepter. These types have symbolic meaning. Mattingly explains, "Concordia unites Emperor and Empress in a bond of loyalty and devotion. Her double cornucopiae is the royal glory of the kings and queens of Egypt. The cornucopiae below her seat is a sign of the Golden Age … the column on which she leans is the special emblem of Securitas," while "Vesta, with the palladium, is the Vesta of the special shrine on the Palatine – the object of the worship of the Empress as wife of the Pontifex Maximus."[4] Coins of the first issue are exceedingly rare, with only a dozen examples known of all three reverse types put together. No coins of this first issue were found in the Reka Devnia hoard, Strack 391-393 knew only five denarii of this whole issue, and few have appeared in the auction market in the past quarter century. After an exhaustive search of auction archives and online databases, I believe the coins listed below represent the complete inventory of specimens online or museum specimens cited in the major print references. I was fortunate enough to have recently acquired an example of one of these elusive coins. I am also fortunate to have made the acquaintance of Paul Dinsdale [URL='https://www.cointalk.com/members/110988/']@paulus_dinius[/URL] , who generously shared his extensive files of previous auction sales and provided me with photos from the plates of numismatic references that are not in my own library. I am deeply indebted to Paul for his time and expertise and consider him a co-author of this thread. [B]Type 1: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and with a cornucopiae under or as part of her throne.[/B] The specimen in my collection: [ATTACH=full]1179790[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Faustina I, AD 138-140. Roman AR denarius, 2.85 g, 16.6 mm, 5 h. Rome, first issue, AD 138-139. Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG, bare-headed and draped bust of Fautina, right. Rev: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, holding patera and resting left arm on throne, cornucopiae under chair. Refs: British Museum 1978, 0314.2; cf. Strack 391 (Ashmolean), Hunter 1 (GLAHM 26918). RIC --; Cohen --; RCV --; CRE --. Notes: BMC p. 8* cites Strack 392 in error; RSC 146b correctly cites Strack 391 and cites BMC p.8*.[/SIZE] Strack notes one specimen of this type, to which he assigns catalog number 391, with the vague description: Concordia seated to l. (cornucopiae) with patera. He cites the specimen from the Sir Charles Oman collection, Oxford (below) [ATTACH=full]1179796[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Strack pl. 6, 391 = Sir Charles Oman collection, Oxford[/SIZE] Paul Dinsdale and I believe this coin to be an ancient imitative issue – note the atypical portrait and its crude rendition of the empress’s hairstyle. An example with a better claim to being an official issue is the specimen in the Hunterian Museum (GLAHM 26918) = Hunter 1 (illustrated below) [ATTACH=full]1179794[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]Hunter pl. 67, 1[/SIZE] Note the lack of the throne-like back on the chair, and that the elbow rests directly on the cornucopiae; the area below the chair is vacant. There are two other known examples with the Concordia seated reverse type. On these, Concordia is depicted resting her left elbow on the arm of her throne; the throne has a back rest and the cornucopiae is placed below the seat. [ATTACH=full]1179797[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]British Museum ([URL='https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1978-0314-2']1978,0314.2[/URL])[/SIZE] [ATTACH=full]1179790[/ATTACH] [SIZE=3]The OP coin, which is an obverse die-match to the specimen in the British Museum.[/SIZE] [B]Type 2: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia standing left, leaning against a column, and holding a patera and double cornucopiae.[/B] Strack notes two specimens of this type, to which he assigns catalog number 392: Paris 5484 (shown below), and a second from the Osiek hoard, which eventually was obtained for the British Museum Collection ([URL='https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1938-0310-1']1938,0310.1[/URL]). [ATTACH=full]1179798[/ATTACH] There are, in addition, the following specimens: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (Electronic Auction 202), 14.1.2009, lot 287 Numismatik Lanz München (Auction 159), 8.12.2014, lot 472 London Ancient Coins Ltd (Auction 46), 12.10.2015, lot 235 [B]Type 3: VESTA, Vesta seated left holding Palladium and scepter.[/B] Strack notes two specimens of this type, to which he assigns catalog number 393: The British museum specimen ([URL='https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1912-0710-221']BMCRE 37[/URL]) and Vienna (11165), which is cited by Cohen (285). [URL='https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=279254']A third recorded example[/URL] appeared in Gemini Auction II (lot 441, 11 January 2006), illustrated below: [ATTACH=full]1179799[/ATTACH] Given the great rarity of these first issue coins, I don’t expect anyone to post additional examples, so post anything you feel is relevant! ~~~ [B]Bibliography[/B] Cohen, Henry. [I]Description historique des monnaies frappées sous l'Empire Romain, [/I]Tome III:[I] de Marc Aurèle à Albin (161 à 197 après J.-C.).[/I] Paris, 1883. Dinsdale, Paul H. [I]Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius Caesar AD 138-161: Antonine Coinage.[/I] Leeds, Paul H Dinsdale, 2018. Mattingly, Harold, [I]Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, [/I]vol. IV:[I] Antoninus Pius to Commodus. Introduction, indexes and plates. [/I]London, BMP, 1968. Mattingly, Harold; Sydenham, Edward A, [I]The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 3: Antoninus Pius to Commodus[/I], London, Spink, 1986. Robertson, Anne S. [I]Roman Imperial Coins in the Hunter Coin Cabinet: University of Glasgow[/I] vol. 2, [I]Trajan to Commodus[/I]. London, Oxford University Press, 1971. Strack, Paul L. [I]Untersuchungen Zur Romischen Reichspragung Des Zweiten Jahrhunderts[/I]. vol. 3, Die Reichsprägung zur Zeit des Antoninus Pius. Stuttgart, Kohlhammer, 1937. [B]Notes:[/B] 1. Mattingly, p. xxxii, n. 2 cites Dessau, Hermann, [I]Inscriptiones Latinae Selectae[/I] 2182 as demonstrating P P appears in a Latin inscription dated to 1 March, 139. 2. Mattingly, pp. xl-xli and xlv. 3. Strack 191, 192, 193; BMCRE 36, 37, p.8*; RSC 146b, 153a, 285; Dinsdale, however, lists four: 008000, 008010, 008020, 008030. 4. Mattingly, p. lii.[/QUOTE]
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The first issue for Faustina I, AD 138
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