Faustina Friday – Faustina the Younger's Beckmann Type 2 Hairstyle

[Roman Collector]

Friday felicitations, fellow Faustina fanatics! Today we're going to examine one of the most common of Faustina the Younger's early coiffures, the Beckmann Type 2 hairstyle. This represents the eighth in my ongoing series about Faustina the Younger's ten hairdos. I have previously written about the Beckmann Type 1, Type 3, Type 5, Type 7, Type 8, Type 9, and Type 10 styles.

Recognizing the Type 2 Hairstyle

The Type 2 hairstyle is characterized by a large, prominent wave of hair, marked with a single or double wavy engraved line on the empress's brow and framing her face. The hair behind the brow wave is combed horizontally back toward a large, loose bun at the back of the head. It is somewhat similar to the Type 7 hairstyle in this respect, but on the Type 2 hairstyle, there are no braids of hair flanking the face behind the brow wave (misidentified in the older literature as "strand(s) of pearls") and the bun is larger than on the Type 7 coiffure. Most importantly, the Type 7 only occurs paired with the FAVSTINA AVGVSTA obverse legend, whereas the Type 2 style never bears that legend.

There are few sculptural representations of the empress wearing this hairstyle. Fittschen notes only two, both from Rome.[1] Beckmann illustrates one of these; I have been unable to find an image online despite a very frustrating search with multiple terms.

Sculptural portrait of Faustina the Younger wearing the Type 2 hairstyle. Rome, Vatican.[2]

Dating the Type 2 Hairstyle

We know from Beckmann's die-linkage study of the empress's aurei that Faustina seems to have abandoned this hairstyle for the Beckmann Type 2 hairstyle upon the occasion of the birth of her daughter Lucilla on March 7, 149 CE.[3] Coins depicting the empress in this hairstyle were issued for more than five years, after which she abandoned this hairstyle for the Beckmann Type 5 hairstyle in autumn of 154 CE.[4] However, Beckmann's die-linkage study of the aurei of Faustina the Younger demonstrates more than one portrait type in use simultaneously, even with the same reverse type. Indeed, the period between 149 and 154 CE saw the brief introduction and disappearance of obverse dies depicting Faustina's Type 3 and Type 4 hairstyles alongside – and followed by – dies depicting her Type 2 hairstyle.[5] Therefore, the use of Faustina's hairstyles in dating her imperial issues must be done cautiously. The hairstyles are more useful for assigning a relative chronology than for assigning an absolute chronology. On provincial issues, all bets are off, and dated provincials may depict the empress in hairstyles that are several years out of date when compared to the imperial series.

The Empress's Titulature Paired with the Type 2 Hairstyle

Busts featuring the Type 2 hairstyle appear paired with three different obverse inscriptions over the five and a half years the hairstyle was in use, of which one inscription was used twice. I have previously discussed the dating of the empress's obverse titulature elsewhere.

FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL (December 147 to May 151 CE)

When the Type 2 Hairstyle was introduced in 149 CE, the dative case inscription FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL was still in use, such as on this specimen in my own collection.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.86 g, 19.2 mm, 7 h.
Rome, 149-151 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: PVDICITIA, Pudicitia veiled, standing left, arranging drapery on right shoulder, and holding up hem of skirt.
Refs: RIC 507a; BMCRE 1051-53; Cohen 185 corr.; RSC 176a; Sear 4706; Strack 493; CRE 206.
Note: Cohen 176 refers to a diademed bust type (likely misdescribed); Cohen 185 with obverse right-facing bust "avec les chevaux ondés" (with wavy hair) and reverse "La Pudeur debout à gauche, se couvrent la tête de son voile, main droite baissée" (Pudicitia stg. l., covering her head with veil, r. hand lowered at side) is probably this coin.

FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL (May 151 to the end of summer 151 CE)

In the late 1980s, Curtis Clay compared the denarii of Pius, Marcus Aurelius and Faustina and their representation in the Reka Devnia hoard and elucidated an absolute chronology for the silver issues of Faustina II. In the course of this work, he concluded that the dative case inscription was then followed by the FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL legend about May 151 CE and was in use for about four or five months.[6] Similarly, Beckmann, in his die-linkage study of the aurei of Faustina the Younger, also noted a brief shift from the first dative case legend to the nominative case, FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL. This change was not sudden or clear cut but, rather, transpired over a period of coin production marked by what Beckmann describes as a "confusing array of different obverse legends, portraits, and reverse types."[7] Because the FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL legend reappears later, I shall refer to this four or five month long period in 151 during which this legend was used as the "first period of FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL usage."

On the aurei (BMC 1041) and sestertii (Strack 1297), the Concordia standing issue first appears with the dative case inscription and then transitions to the nominative FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG inscription, when silver issues of this reverse type appear. I have previously discussed the dating of these issues elsewhere. The reverse type continues into the period when the FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL legend was introduced (see below), allowing the Concordia standing issue to be dated to the first period of FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL usage, rather than the second period when the inscription was reintroduced.
 

Faustina Jr, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.03 g, 17.3 mm, 7 h.
Rome, Summer 151 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: CONCORDIA standing facing, head right, gathering up skirt and holding cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC 500b,3; BMCRE 1085; Cohen 42, CRE 164.

FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL (end of summer 151 to about June 152 CE)

Clay's and Beckmann's work demonstrates that this first period of FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL usage was followed by the FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL legend, which was in use for about seven or eight months, from the end of summer 151 to about June 152 CE. During this period, we see ongoing use of the Concordia standing reverse type as well as the introduction of the Concordia seated, the Venus standing, holding apple and scepter type, and the reintroduction of the Venus standing, arranging drapery and holding apple types.[8] I illustrate each reverse type with representative specimens from my collection, chosen to best illustrate the Type 2 hairstyle.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR Denarius, 2.84 g, 18.5 mm, 6 h.
Rome, end of summer - late 151 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia standing facing, head left, holding skirt and cornucopiae.
Refs: RIC III 501 (Pius); BMCRE 1078 note (Pius); Cohen/RSC 46; RCV --; CRE 166; ERIC II –.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.02 g, 18.1 mm, 6 h.
Rome, end of summer 151 - June 152 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: CONCORDIA, Concordia seated left, holding flower and resting elbow on cornucopiae set on globe under chair.
Refs: RIC 502a(6); BMCRE 1080-81; Cohen 53; RCV –; Strack 502; CRE 169.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 20.78 g, 32.6 mm, 5 h.
Rome, end of summer 151 - June 152 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing left, holding apple and scepter.
Refs: RIC 1387(6); BMCRE 2168; Cohen 250; RCV –; Strack 1311.
Notes: Also used with the Beckmann Type 3 hairstyle. See here for a discussion of this reverse type and its various varieties.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum dupondius, 9.19 g, 26.88 mm, 5 h.
Rome, end summer 151 - June 152 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: VENVS S C, Venus standing right, arranging drapery on right shoulder and holding apple in her left hand.
Refs: RIC 1410c; BMCRE 2169; Cohen 257; Strack 1312; RCV 4737.

FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL (about June 152 through December 155)

About June 152 CE, the empress's titulature reverted to the FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL legend, which was in use through the end of 155, after the introduction of the Type 5 hairstyle in autumn 154. I shall refer to this time as the second period of FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL usage. This period lasted more than three years and saw the continuation of the Concordia seated and the Venus standing, holding apple and scepter types. Additional reverse types bearing the Type 2 coiffure were introduced, including the Juno standing, Pietas standing with a child at her feet, and an anepigraphic Diana standing type. I illustrate each reverse type with representative specimens from my collection, chosen to best illustrate the Type 2 hairstyle.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.67 g, 31.1 mm, 7 h.
Rome, June 152 - autumn 154 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG·FIL·, bare-headed and draped bust right (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: CONCORDIA S C, Concordia seated left, holding flower and resting elbow on cornucopiae set on globe under chair.
Refs: RIC 1374a; BMC 2175-76; Cohen 57; RCV 4713; Strack 1315.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
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.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman Æ as or dupondius, 8.55 g, 23.6 mm, 1 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: IVNO, Juno standing facing, head left, holding patera and scepter.
Refs: RIC 1398; BMCRE 2188; Cohen 124; RCV 4726; Strack 1319.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum sestertius, 23.61g, 34.2 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: PIETAS S C, Pietas standing facing, head left, holding flower and cornucopiae, with child standing facing, head to right, to her left.
Refs: RIC 1379; BMCRE 2177-79; Cohen 173; RCV 4715; Strack 1321.
Notes: Sear identifies the child on the reverse as Lucilla. Ex Antonio Carmona collection, ex-Roma E-sale 82, lot 1380, 15 April, 2021.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman orichalcum dupondius, 13.17 g, 25.4 mm, 5 h.
Rome, c. 153 -154 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL, bare-headed and draped bust, right, (Beckmann type 2 hairstyle).
Rev: S C, Diana, draped, standing front, head left, holding out arrow in right hand and resting left on bow, set on ground.
Refs: RIC 1405a; BMCRE 2191-92; Cohen 207; Strack 1325; RCV 4733.

Let's see your coins with Faustina's Type 2 do! Please post coins, comments, or anything you feel is relevant!

~~~

Notes

1. Fittschen, Klaus. Die Bildnistypen Der Faustina Minor Und Die Fecunditas Augustae. Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, 1982, pp. 48-49, as cited in Beckmann, Martin, Faustina the Younger: Coinage, Portraits, and Public Image, A.N.S. Numismatic Studies 43, American Numismatic Society, New York, 2021, p. 79.

2. Beckmann, op. cit., figure 6.5, p. 80.

3. Beckmann, op. cit., pp. 35-40. I am aware that there is some scholarly disagreement as to Lucilla's birth year. This is largely due to the work of Anthony Birley, who postulates the birth of twin boys in 149 CE. This is soundly rejected by Walter Ameling and by the numismatic evidence itself, which I have reviewed in detail elsewhere. See Levick, Barbara. Faustina I and II: Imperial Women of the Golden Age. Oxford University Press, 2014, pp. 115-118 for a review of the academic literature on the dating of the births of Faustina's children.

4. Curtis Clay analyzed the Reka Devnia hoard in the 1980s and determined the hairstyle was introduced 81% of the way into Pius's TR P XVIII (10 December 153 – 9 December 154 CE), and thus sometime in autumn of 154 CE. Curtis L. Clay, personal communication, 13 September 2021.

5. Beckmann, op. cit., pp. 44-46.

6. Curtis L. Clay, personal communication, 13 September 2021.

7. Beckmann, op. cit., p. 42.

8. This reverse type first appears on quinarius aureus (BMCRE 1061) and the medium bronze issues (Classical Numismatic Group, Inc., Triton X, lot 644, 9 January 2007) bearing the dative case FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL inscription together with a bust type depicting the empress in her Type 1 coiffure. They cannot be dated with certainty because they fall outside of the purview of Beckmann's die study of the aurei and Curtis Clay's analysis of the denarii in the Reka Devnia hoard. Nonetheless, they are not known with the combination of dative obverse inscription and Type 2 bust and must therefore have fallen out of production prior to 149 CE. The reverse type appears to have been reintroduced in 151 and continues on the denarii after the introduction of the Type 5 bust in autumn, 154.

Edited September 29, 2023 by Roman Collector
Correcting the title

[LONGINUS]

 

An amazing attention to detail post, @Roman Collector

 

I’m not sure I have her hairstyle quite right on this button illustration but hair it is ✂️.

 

 

[Roman Collector]

8 hours ago, LONGINUS said:

 

An amazing attention to detail post, @Roman Collector

 

I’m not sure I have her hairstyle quite right on this button illustration but hair it is ✂️.

 

 

That's a gorgeous example of the Type 2 hairstyle, @LONGINUS!!

[Marsyas Mike]

Terrific Faustina Friday as always, @Roman Collector. 

So I thought I'd take the opportunity to share this odd-looking Faustina II - possibly not an official issue?  The fabric is very lumpy, but I can't really find a base core, as with a fourree.  

 

Faustina II   Denarius (c. 152-154 A.D.)    Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVG P[II] AV[G FIL], bare-headed, draped bust rt. / CONCORD[IA], Concordia standing facing, head right, gathering up skirt and holding cornucopiae. RIC III Antoninus Pius 500b,3; BMCRE 1085; Cohen RSC 42.  (2.90 grams / 19 x 16 mm) eBay July 2023           $9.50 BIN

Note: OCRE has this as RIC III Antoninus Pius 500Ba  However, Roman Collector has it RIC 500b,3: "FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL is inscription (3).  FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL is inscription (6), WHICH IS INCORRECTLY PRINTED in the dative case as FAVSTINAE" Roman Collector NF Apr. 2023

 

 

[Roman Collector]

1 hour ago, Marsyas Mike said:

Terrific Faustina Friday as always, @Roman Collector. 

So I thought I'd take the opportunity to share this odd-looking Faustina II - possibly not an official issue?  The fabric is very lumpy, but I can't really find a base core, as with a fourree.  

 

Faustina II   Denarius (c. 152-154 A.D.)    Rome Mint FAVSTINA AVG P[II] AV[G FIL], bare-headed, draped bust rt. / CONCORD[IA], Concordia standing facing, head right, gathering up skirt and holding cornucopiae. RIC III Antoninus Pius 500b,3; BMCRE 1085; Cohen RSC 42.  (2.90 grams / 19 x 16 mm) eBay July 2023           $9.50 BIN

Note: OCRE has this as RIC III Antoninus Pius 500Ba  However, Roman Collector has it RIC 500b,3: "FAVSTINA AVG PII AVG FIL is inscription (3).  FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL is inscription (6), WHICH IS INCORRECTLY PRINTED in the dative case as FAVSTINAE" Roman Collector NF Apr. 2023

That lumpy flan is really weird, @Marsyas Mike! It has to be a fourree, I would think. A fascinating example of a coin with the Type 2 do!