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Faustina Friday – Recreating Sulzer’s Collection of Faustina the Younger, Part 7


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22-Long-Weekend-Meme - Reading Kingdom Blog

Friday felicitations, fellow Faustina fanatics! I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead. Last week, we revisited the collection of Johann Sulzer and illustrated several middle bronzes of Faustina the Younger in Sulzer's collection. This week, we finish with Sulzer's collection of Faustina the Younger by examining the remaining middle bronzes. This week features coins on page 186 of the catalog to his collection.

I remind the reader that Sulzer separated the coins by denomination, listing first the lifetime issues followed by the posthumous issues, each group arranged alphabetically by reverse legend. However, he did not separate them by obverse legend nor even distinguish those issued under Antoninus Pius from those under Marcus Aurelius. Rather, all the coins are listed together in one section titled "Faustina, wife of M. Aurelius, called 'Junior'." As a result, you'll see a variety of obverse legends and hairstyles in this week's installment.

Sulzer makes a few errors in his description of the coins, but none that make identification difficult. With one exception requiring an illustration from the British Museum collection, the coins illustrated here are from my own collection. Here is the page of Sulzer's collection under discussion this week.


Sulzer185.JPG.7a60d956cd2efc9990261105df4873f1.JPG
Sulzer186.JPG.01883769fdacd260abb3b03ce2d7424c.JPG
Sulzer #1558:

Sulzer makes a slight error here in his transcription of the obverse legend as a Latin nominative. While the nominative FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL legend was used on the bronze coinage from about June 152 through December 155, there are no coins of a PVDICITIA seated type bearing this nominative case inscription. Rather, this coin bears the dative legend, FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, used from AD 147 to the end of summer 151. I discuss the dating of the various obverse legends
elsewhere. I suspect this part of the inscription was off the flan or worn down on Sultzer's specimen and, in the absence of any reference materials to compare it with, Sulzer reconstructed the legend as a nominative. He owned two specimens of the corresponding sestertius of this reverse type (nos. 1519 and 1520) and he makes the same error in transcribing the obverse inscription on #1519, though he transcribes the correct dative inscription on #1520. At any rate, there is only one coin number 1558 can be and it is this one.


FaustinaJrPVDICITIASCseateddupondius.jpg.fe9319bee0bf07aae12df492f8e0828b.jpg

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum dupondius, 13.03 g, 25.1 mm, 12 h.
Rome, early 148-March 149 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 1 hairstyle).
Rev: PVDICITIA S C, Pudicitia seated left, arranging drapery on shoulder with right hand and resting left hand on lap; flower below seat.
Refs: RIC 1404b; BMCRE 2159; Cohen 187; Strack 1302; RCV 4732.
Notes: This was one of the
first copper alloy issues for the young empress.


Sulzer #1559-60:

Sulzer had two specimens of this coin but he describes them in full, which is out of character for him. He usually indicates duplication with idem numus ("same coin") or simply idem ("same"). He apparently thought they were two separate coin types. Number 1559 is slightly larger in diameter (he assigns its size as E) than number 1560 (size Δ). Perhaps one was a dupondius and the other an as?


FaustinaJrSAECVLIFELICITSCAs.jpg.e5a22f46a5124ab81cf88d44ecc33b46.jpg

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman Æ as, 9.78 g, 26.1 mm, 5 h.
Rome, 161 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 5 hairstyle).
Rev: SAECVLI FELICIT SC, draped throne on which there are two infant boys with stars above their heads.
Refs: RIC 1666; BMCRE 991; Cohen 194; RCV 5302.
Notes: Issued to
commemorate the birth of Faustina's twins, Titus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus and his (slightly) younger brother Commodus on 31 August, 161 CE. The coin may not look like much, but I treasure it because it was a gift from Henry Clay Lindgren.


Sulzer #1561:

Sulzer errs here in his transcription of the reverse legend as SALVS AVGVSTAE, even though he had two specimens of the corresponding sestertius (nos.
1523-24) and correctly recorded their reverse inscriptions as SALVTI AVGVSTAE. There are no coins issued for Faustina bearing the inscription SALVS AVGVSTAE, and I suspect the legend was off the flan or worn on Sulzer's specimen. I certainly understand Sulzer's error; my specimen is extremely worn and there's no way I could have transcribed its legend in the absence of good reference materials to consult.


FaustinaJrSALVTIAVGVSTAESCseateddupondius.jpg.edbb8986f1a1734a7c9230997982652f.jpg

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman Æ as or dupondius, 9.62 g, 24.6 mm, 11 h.
Rome, 161- c. 164 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: SALVTI AVGVSTAE S C, Salus seated left, feeding snake coiled round altar from patera in right hand and resting left arm on chair.
Refs: RIC 1671a; BMCRE
992-93; Cohen –; RCV –; MIR 30-7/10b.
Notes: This reverse type was issued shortly after the birth of Faustina’s twins at the end of August 161 CE, raising the question of whether the empress had survived an obstetrical complication for which
coins were issued in commemoration of her health. However, the coins of this reverse type appear to have been issued in large quantities over a period of at least two or three years and the reverse type may not reflect any specific historical event. Salus is a rather common reverse type used on the coins of many emperors and empresses throughout the Roman principate.


Sulzer #1562:

FaustinaJrVENVSSCappleandscepterMBlongobvinscrtype3hairstyle2.jpg.41e18005551e94c4b1f3a04281d97123.jpg

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum dupondius, 10.27 g, 25.4 mm, 6 h.
Rome, end of summer 151 to about June 152 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann type 3 hairstyle).
Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter.
Refs: RIC 1408(6); BMCRE 2172; Cohen 251; RCV –; Strack 1311.
Notes: Commonly encountered with the Beckmann Type 2 hairstyle. Rare specimens known with a left-facing bust. I have discussed the
dating of the obverse legend and the varieties of this reverse type elsewhere.


Sulzer #1563:

FaustinaJrVENVSSCappleandscepterdupondiusshortobvinscr.jpg.edc1e8f8447830381f0c366bb6b68185.jpg

Faustina II, AD 147-175.
Roman Æ as or dupondius, 10.53 g, 28.5 mm, 7 h.
Rome, about June 152 - Autumn 154 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter.
Refs: RIC 1408(3); BMCRE 2193; Cohen 253; RCV 4735; Strack 1322.
Notes: I have discussed the
dating of the obverse legend and the varieties of this reverse type elsewhere.


Sulzer #1564:

While I have
denarii and sestertii of this type in my collection, I do not have the middle bronze. Sulzer did.


FaustinaJrVENVSFELIXMBBMC.png.64da98709bbbed002dbf42937a60de47.png

Copper as. VENVS FELIX, Venus seated left, holding Victory and vertical scepter (RIC 1687). British Museum collection, BMC 1002.


Sulzer #1565:

Modern numismatists recognize this reverse type as depicting
standard Venus and Mars iconography, The coin's reverse likely depicts a statuary group in the Forum Augustum. However, lacking suitable reference materials to consult, Sulzer simply describes Venus' male companion as militem armatum ("an armed soldier").


FaustinaJrVENERIVICTRICISCVenusandMarsasMarti.jpg.20a2f4d5fcbfc947348c592591a7eb22.jpg

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman Æ as, 11.96 g, 25 mm, 6 h.
Rome, c. 170-175 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 10 hairstyle).
Rev: VENERI VICTRICI S C, Venus standing right, placing both hands on the arm of Mars, standing facing, head left, holding round shield in left hand.
Refs: RIC 1680; BMCRE 999-1001; Cohen 241; RCV 5305; MIR 42-7/10c.
Notes:
This reverse type is a counterpart to the numerous Mars Victor issues of Marcus Aurelius issued between AD 171 and 174.


Sulzer #1566:

FaustinaJrSCcrescentandstarsMB.jpg.330f0988d6be8919624d8f92e9b8c438.jpg

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman Æ as or dupondius, 12.04 g, 24.4 mm, 6 h.
Rome, 176-180 CE.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 10 hairstyle).
Rev: Crescent and seven stars; S C in exergue.
Refs: RIC 1714; BMCRE 1593-94; Cohen 213; RCV 5235; MIR 63-7/10.
Notes: This is the only middle bronze issued posthumously for Faustina the Younger.
Dating the issues with the DIVA FAVSTINA PIA obverse legend is difficult and only a loose date range of 176-180 is possible to assign.


That concludes our recreation of Sulzer's collection of Faustina the Younger! Congratulations, you made it through all seven installments! Next week, we'll resume the usual flyspecking you've come to expect from Faustina Friday!

Do you have any coins from page 186 of Sulzer's collection? Let's see them! As always, coins, comments, and anything you feel relevant are welcomed!

Edited by Roman Collector
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Another terrific Fasutina Friday - thanks for that, @Roman Collector.

Unfortunately, after ransacking my collection, I found only one to go with this Sulzer Installment, and it is not an exact match:

Sulzer 1558 sim. - this one has a stephane (RIC III Antoninus Pius 1404c (as);)

FaustinaII-AsandDupondiusPudicitiaseatedRIC1404c-MINEpic0.jpg.5c4c5ada5d844eaf6f83521db88bc855.jpg

 

Faustina II  Æ As (Early 148-March 149 A.D.) Rome Mint [FAVSTIN]AE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right w. stephane / [PVDICITIA], S C, Pudicitia seated left, drawing out veil with right hand, left hand at side. RIC III Antoninus Pius 1404c (as); Cohen 187; BMC 2159. (7.54 grams / 23 x 21 mm) eBay May 2022       @ $20.00 BIN

You commented on this on CT a year ago:

"Very cool, @Marsyas Mike! That type with the stephane is quite scarce indeed! The British Museum does not have one in their collection. Strack cites examples in Paris (BnF), Bologna (Museo Communale), and Naples (Nationalmuseum). None at OCRE. One sold by CNG, another at NAC.  The stephaned bust is known only in the middle bronze denomination, not in the sestertius."

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-young-faustina-ii-when-pudicitia-could-be-used-without-irony.359092/#post-8341243

Keep up the good work, RC!  

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2 hours ago, Marsyas Mike said:

Another terrific Fasutina Friday - thanks for that, @Roman Collector.

Unfortunately, after ransacking my collection, I found only one to go with this Sulzer Installment, and it is not an exact match:

Sulzer 1558 sim. - this one has a stephane (RIC III Antoninus Pius 1404c (as);)

FaustinaII-AsandDupondiusPudicitiaseatedRIC1404c-MINEpic0.jpg.5c4c5ada5d844eaf6f83521db88bc855.jpg

 

Faustina II  Æ As (Early 148-March 149 A.D.) Rome Mint [FAVSTIN]AE AVG PII AVG FIL, draped bust right w. stephane / [PVDICITIA], S C, Pudicitia seated left, drawing out veil with right hand, left hand at side. RIC III Antoninus Pius 1404c (as); Cohen 187; BMC 2159. (7.54 grams / 23 x 21 mm) eBay May 2022       @ $20.00 BIN

You commented on this on CT a year ago:

"Very cool, @Marsyas Mike! That type with the stephane is quite scarce indeed! The British Museum does not have one in their collection. Strack cites examples in Paris (BnF), Bologna (Museo Communale), and Naples (Nationalmuseum). None at OCRE. One sold by CNG, another at NAC.  The stephaned bust is known only in the middle bronze denomination, not in the sestertius."

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/a-young-faustina-ii-when-pudicitia-could-be-used-without-irony.359092/#post-8341243

Keep up the good work, RC!  

Thanks for the kind words and for showing that stephaned rarity!! Fantastic!

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