Faustina I, first one, might as well have a good one!

[expat]

Until now, missing from my collection. Delivered 2nd post today.

Faustina Sr AR Denarius, RIC 361, RSC 101a, BMC 417, SEAR 4583. DIVA FAVSTINA, with elaborate hairstyle and draped bust right / AVGV-STA, Ceres standing left, long hair tied behind, raising right hand & holding long torch with left.
Rome mint, A.D. 145-147.  3,0 g - 15 mm
Annia Galeria Faustina the Elder, sometimes referred to as Faustina I or Faustina Major, was a Roman empress and wife of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius. The emperor Marcus Aurelius was her nephew and later became her adopted son, along with Emperor Lucius Verus.

AS always your commemts are welcome, and any coins of Faustina I or her family are appreciated.

Edited August 31, 2023 by expat
date of striking changed

[Roman Collector]

That is a lovely denarius, @expat! As a Faustina fanatic, I'm always happy to see coins of Faustina the Elder and her daughter. Coingratulations on the new acquisition.

This particular reverse type was only issued in the denarius denomination. The reported aureus version of the coin, RIC 362, BMCRE 427n., Cohen 101, Calicó 1766, may not exist as an official issue. Although Cohen cites the BnF, neither Strack nor Beckmann record any examples and Strack records the complete inventory of the BnF in Paris. Has Calicó illustrated a denarius instead of an aureus, a known failing of that reference? Is this an unofficial issue or an aureus struck with denarius dies? I have been unable to confirm the existence of this coin despite a comprehensive internet search. The coin is also known with a left-facing bust, BMCRE 417n., RSC 101b, Strack 467 (Sofia), CRE 84, known from a handful of specimens. The usual right-facing bust type, on the other hand, is quite common, with 111 specimens in the Reka Devnia hoard.

Because the coin was only issued in the denarius denomination, it falls outside the purview of Beckmann's die-linkage study of the aurei and sestertii of Diva Faustina the elder and an exact chronology is not possible, but it appears that all of the AVGVSTA reverse types depicting Ceres with a single torch or scepter were issued between 145 and 147 CE.

Here is my specimen of the type.

 

Faustina I, 138-140 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.41 g, 17.4 mm, 5h.
Rome, 145-147 CE.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: AVGVSTA, Ceres standing left, raising right hand and holding long torch in left.
Refs: RIC 361a; BMCRE 416-420; RSC 101a; RCV 4583; Strack 467; CRE 83.

[Nerosmyfavorite68]

Indeed, that's a nice one.  I have no catalogued coins of either Faustina.

 

[Ryro]

Beautiful portrait on your new Denarius that is!

Here's my best portrait of the dead goddess:

[Curtisimo]

That is a lovely coin @expat. You better watch out calling for Faustina coins… @Roman Collectorwill take this thread to page 10. 😉 

Here are my two favorites.

A lifetime…

Roman Empire 
Faustina I
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck AD 139-140
Dia.: 18 mm
Wt.: 2.77 g
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA; Draped bust right.
Rev.: CONCORDIA AVG; Concordia standing left, holding patera and cornucopia.
Ref.: RIC 335 (Antoninus Pius)
Ex Collection of a Hanseatic “Römerfreundes” (Sammlung eines hanseatischen Römerfreundes). Ex Auktion Münzzentrum 94, Lot 420 (Cologne) (May 13, 1998); Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH, Auktion 341, lot 5936 (October 2020); Ex Numismatik Naumann, Auction 100, lot 509 (March 7, 2021).

… and a posthumous.

Roman Empire
Diva Faustina I (Died ca. AD 141)
AR Denarius, Rome mint, struck after AD 141
Obv.: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA; bust right, hair elaborately styled.
Rev.: DEDICATIO AEDIS; Hexa-style Temple of the Divine Faustina showing podium, statues etc.
Ref.: RIC III 388
 

 

[ambr0zie]

It seems this type is a popular Faustina starter, as this was my first Faustina coin too. 

[shanxi]

Nice coins ! Here are two provincials:

Faustina I
Phrygia, Hyrgaleis
Apollodotos (archon and strategos)
Obv.: ΦΑVϹΤƐΙΝΑ ϹƐΒΑϹΤΗ, draped bust of Faustina I, r.
Rev: ƐΠΙ ΑΠΟΛΛΟΔΟΤΟΥ Α Ϲ ΥΡΓΑΛƐΩΝ, cult statue of Artemis of Ephesus standing, facing, wearing kalathos, having supports; between crescent (on l.) and star (on r.)
Ae, 3.60g, 21 mm
Ref.: RPC IV.2, 1823

 

Lydia, Hierocaesarea
Faustina I
Obv: ΦΑVСΤЄΙΝΑ СЄΒΑСΤΗ, Draped bust right.
Rev: IЄPOKAICAPЄΩN, Artemis standing right, drawing bow; behind, stag standing right.
AE, 5.91g, 22mm
Ref.: RPC IV.2 online 1269-7 (this coin), GRPC Lydia 83 (this coin)
Ex Plankenhorn Collection

 

 

[Salomons Cat]

On 8/31/2023 at 7:56 AM, ambr0zie said:

It seems this type is a popular Faustina starter, as this was my first Faustina coin too. 

Almost the same for me! This here was my first Faustina:

Diva Faustina I (Died 140/1). Denarius, Rome mint.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust right, wearing pearls bound on top of her head
Rev: AVGVSTA, Ceres standing left, holding grain ears and torch. RIC III 360 (Pius).

Edited September 2, 2023 by Salomons Cat

[John Conduitt]

Yes that is a nice one. I don't have Faustina I, only Faustina II. But she attracts likes a lot more than her husband 🤣

Faustina II Denarius, 145-161

Rome. Silver, 18mm, 2.68g. Bust of Faustina the Younger, band of pearls round head, hair waived and coiled on back of head, draped, right; FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL. Venus, draped, standing left, holding apple in right hand and rudder set on dove, in left; VENVS (RIC III, Antoninus Pius 515A (denarius)). Found Rossington, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Portable Antiquities Scheme: SWYOR-D8E6A8.

Edited September 2, 2023 by John Conduitt