Julia Domna is a favorite. I don't have pics of all my empresses but will post a few I do. Faustina Jr Salonina -Alexandria Julia Maesa
A few more : Livia Livia (+ AD 29), Dupondius Rome mint, AD 22-23 under the reign of Tiberius SALVS AVGVSTA, draped bust of Salus (Livia) right TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVG P M TR POT XXIIII, around large S C 13.90 g, 27 mm,. Ref : RCV # 1740 (450), Cohen # 5 (6), RIC I, 47. Julia Titi Julia Titi, Denarius minted in Rome, c.79-81 AD IVLIA AVGVSTA T AVG F, Bust of Julia right VENVS AVG, Venus leaning on a column, holding helmet and sceptre 3.03 gr Ref : Cohen #12, RCV #2611 Sabina Sabina, Denarius Rome mint AD 129 SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P , draped bust right CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left holding patera, resting on a statuette of Spes, Cornucopia beneath her seat. 3.22 gr Ref : Cohen # 12, RCV # 3919 Julia Maesa Julia Maesa, Denarius struck in Rome in AD 218-220 IVLIA MAESA AVG, Bust of Maesa right IVNO, Juno standing left holding patera and sceptre 3.48 gr Ref : RCV #7750, Cohen #16 Orbiana Orbiana, Denarius Rome mint, AD 225 SALL BARBIA ORBIANA AVG, diademed and draped bust right CONCORDIA AVGG, Concordia seated left on throne, holding double cornucopia and patera 3.08 gr Ref : RSC # 1, Cohen # 1, RCV # 8191, RIC # 319 Q
There are many youtube videos about recreating Roman hairstyles. Here is one about a hairstyle of Faustina II and it will link to others:
I watched a couple of those ancient hairstyle recreation videos and they were interesting. I'm very happy to be alive in the 21st century though, where I can shower, hit it with a blow dryer for a minute, and be on my way . ... Here'a an empress coin purchased for the utterly charming portrait of Lucilla and wonderful rendering of Pudicitia: Lucilla Empress CE 163-169, wife of Lucius Verus AR denarius, 19 mm, 3.25 gm Obv: LVCILLA AVGVSTA; draped bust right Rev: PVDICITIA; Pudicitia, veiled, standing left, with right hand preparing to draw a veil across her face (or had she just drawn the veil off her face?), left hand at side Ref: RIC III 780 WOW, those are incredible!
@Meander: That portrait of Faustina Jr. is the most charming I've ever seen. Is that a sestertius, or a middle bronze? My most recent empresses are all small to middle bronzes: Sabina, AE as, RIC 1024 (Hadrian), issued c. 134 (I wanted one with this specific hairstyle): Lucilla, AE as, RIC 1752, issued c. 164: And Agrippina II (with Nero), Myrina in Aeolis, hemiassarion (17mm, 4g): I am thinking of trying to remove or at least reduce the encrustations from that last one. Anyone have some tips?
Great coins all. All I've got so far is severina and fausta. Used to have a nice Alexandria tet of domna but it was in my old collection that was sold.
A few more... RI Orbiana w Severus Alexander Augusta 225-227 CE Æ AS 23 mm 8.75g Rome Concordia patera double cornucopiae RIC 656 RI Severina Wife of Aurelian 274-275 CE BI22 Antoninianus 3-14g Rome mint Crescent Concordia RIC 317 RI Julia Domna 193-195 CE AR Den Vesta Palladium ex: @dougsmit 's collection
Here's one from the late empire--Aelia Flaccilla, the wife of Theodosius I. Often, coins of this era are crudely rendered, but I think this portrait is quite lovely. Aelia Flaccilla, AD 379-386 Roman Æ Maiorina (Æ 2); 4.78 gm, 21.55 mm Antioch, AD 383-386 Obv: AEL FLACCILLA AVG, diademed and draped bust, right Rev: SALVS REIPVBLICAE, Victory seated right, inscribing chi-rho onto shield. T in field right, ANTЄ in exergue. Refs: RIC 61.3; Sear 20616; Cohen 4; c.f. LRBC II 2747 Flaccilla was of Hispanian Roman descent. During her marriage to Theodosius, she gave birth to two sons -- future Emperors Arcadius and Honorius -- and a daughter, Aelia Pulcheria. She was a fervent supporter of the Nicene Creed and is commemorated as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church, her feast day being 14 September. Sozomen reports her preventing a conference between Theodosius and Eunomius of Cyzicus who served as figurehead of Anomoeanism, a distinct sect of Arians. Ambrose and Gregory of Nyssa praise her Christian virtue and comment on her role as "a leader of justice" and "pillar of the Church."
this is one of my favorite portraits on a coin i own Plautilla. Augusta, AD 202-205. AR Denarius Struck under Septimius Severus and Caracalla, AD 202-203. O: Draped bust right R: Concordia standing left, holding patera and scepter. RIC IV 363a, Rome mint. 18 mm, 3.7 g. poor girl.
Here's one I haven't shown before. I was happy to find it at the local coin shop which does not have very many ancients at all. This one was probably the best looking they had and it's also my first of Julia Domna.
Leo I, AD 457-474 Roman AE-4 Half Centenionalis; 0.82 gm; 10 mm Constantinople, AD 457-474 Obv: DN LEO, diademed and draped bust, right Rev: b E, Verina standing, holding transverse scepter and globus cruciger Refs: L LRBC II 2272; RIC 714; Sear 21436; Vagi 3739; MIRB 30