Faustina Friday – The "All-Round" legends of December 160 – 163 CE (revised and updated).

[Roman Collector]

Friday felicitations, fellow Faustina fanatics. Today's installment is a revised and updated version of an installment of Faustina Friday from more than two years ago. Since its original publication, I have learned more about the coins with this inscriptional style and have identified some denarii of both Faustina the Elder and Faustina the Younger which only occasionally occur with this type of inscription. This information is helpful to establish the dates of issue for these reverse types.

What is an "All-Round" Legend?

As Strack notes,[1] a change in the style of inscriptions occurs in the gold and silver issues of the Antonine coinage in the very last tribunician year (TR POT XXIIII) of Pius' reign, December 160 - 17 March 161 CE. Specifically, the inscriptions of this period are characterized by larger than normal letters, which are arranged all around the circumference of the coin, with no break above the portrait or reverse type. An example of a denarius of Antoninus Pius from this period with a reverse type relevant to the coins of Faustina the Younger is illustrated below.[2]

Antoninus Pius, 138-161 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.15 g, 18.1 mm, 11 h.
Rome, December, 160 - March, 161 CE.
Obv: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS P P TR P XXIIII, laureate head, right.
Rev: PIETATI AVG COS IIII, Faustina II (as Pietas) standing left, holding a child on each arm; at each side of her, a child standing looking towards her and raising hand.
Refs: RIC 313c; BMCRE 1013-14; Cohen 631; Strack 384; RCV 4098.

This change also appears shortly thereafter in the coins of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus dated by tribunician or consular year to between 161 and 163. See, for example, Marcus Aurelius BMCRE 10, p. 387, of AD 161 and BMCRE 243, p. 417, of AD 163/4; Lucius Verus BMCRE 25, p. 389, of AD 161 and BMCRE 299, p. 425, of AD 163/4. However, by the end of the tribunician year 163/4, this practice had ceased, with the letters smaller in size and breaks reappearing in the inscriptions above the busts. See, for example, Marcus Aurelius BMCRE 253, p. 419 and Lucius Verus BMCRE 278 bis, p. 854.

Martin Beckmann, in his 2021 die-linkage study of the aurei of Faustina II has noticed that this inscriptional style is also seen on the aurei and denarii of Faustina issued between December 160 and 163.[3] He has identified five reverse types that appear with unbroken legends characteristic of this period: SALVTI AVGVSTAE (aurei only), [4] FECVND AVGVSTAE with four children, SAECVLI FELICIT with twin boys on a pulvinar, TEMPOR FELIC with six children, and VENVS standing, holding either an apple or a dove and scepter. These are illustrated below. The hairstyles are as expected, with the Beckmann Type 5 coiffure on the earlier issues,[5] and with the Beckmann Type 7 or Type 9 hairstyles on the coins issued after the birth of Faustina's twins on 31 August, 161 CE.[6]

Types Typically Featuring an All-Round Obverse Legend

These issues can be confidently dated to the period after the introduction of the all-round inscriptional style and before the disappearance of this style in 163 CE.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.32 g, 17.2 mm, 6 h.
Rome, December 160 - early 161 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: FECVND AVGVSTAE, Fecunditas facing, head left, between two children (thought to represent Faustina III and Lucilla), holding two more in hand (thought to represent Fadilla and Cornificia).
Refs: RIC 676; BMCRE 89-90; Cohen 95; Strack 520e; RCV 5251; CRE 178; MIR 10-4/10a.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.22 g, 17.0 mm, 12 h.
Rome, September 161 - early 162 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: SAECVLI FELICIT, Throne, upon which are seated two infant boys, Commodus and Antoninus.
Refs: RIC 711; BMCRE 136; Cohen 191; RCV 5260 var. (no stephane); CRE 221; MIR27-4/10a, b.
Note: The coin celebrates the birth of Faustina's twins on 31 August 161.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.10 g, 17.7 mm, 5 h.
Rome, September 161 - early 162 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: TEMPOR FELIC, female figure, standing left, holding an infant in each arm; at either side, two children standing.
Refs: RIC 719; BMC 156-157; RSC 221; RCV 5263; CRE 179; MIR 31-4/10a.
Note: The coin celebrates the birth of Faustina's twins on 31 August 161.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.09 g, 18.3 mm, 6 h.
Rome, 161-163 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VENVS, Venus standing left, holding dove in right hand and vertical scepter in left hand.
Refs: RIC 728; BMCRE 166; RSC/Cohen 249; Strack 520g; RCV --; CRE 231: MIR 33-4/10a.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.36 g, 17.0 mm, 6 h.
Rome, 161-163 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VENVS, Venus standing left, holding dove in right hand and vertical scepter in left hand.
Refs: RIC 730; BMCRE 167-68; RSC/Cohen 255; Strack 520i; RCV 5266; CRE 236; MIR 32-4/10a.

Types of Faustina the Elder that Occasionally Feature an All-Round Legend.

I have identified two reverse types of the denarii of Faustina the Elder that occasionally appear with the obverse legend rendered in the all-round inscriptional style. These types must have been introduced before the adoption of the all-round inscriptional style but remained in production for a short while after the all-round style, which accounts for the relative scarcity of these type. These reverse types therefore date to 160-161 CE.

Aureus of Faustina the Elder with obverse legend in all-round, large-font letters and the CERES reverse type (RIC 378a). ANS 1956.184.51.

The corresponding denarius of Faustina the Elder with obverse legend in all-round, large-font letters. Solidus Numismatik, Auction 92, lot 343, 25 January 2022.

Faustina I, 138-141 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.60 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h.
Rome, 160-161 CE.
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: VESTA, Vesta standing left, holding Palladium and scepter.
Refs: RIC 400; BMCRE 485; Cohen 291; Strack 463; RCV 4601; CRE 152.
Notes: Casa de Subastas de Madrid, Auction 636, lot 141, 24 February 2023. Münz Zentrum Rheinland, Auction 184, lot 525, 16 May 2018.

Types of Faustina the Younger that Occasionally Feature an All-Round Legend.

I have identified three reverse types of Faustina the Younger that occasionally appear with the obverse legend rendered in the all-round inscriptional style. These types must have been introduced while the Rome mint was using the all-round inscriptional style but remained in production for a short while after the discontinuation of the all-round style, which accounts for the relative scarcity of these type. These reverse types date to 161 – c. 164 CE.

Faustina II, Ꜹ aureus, SALVTI AVGVSTAE, Salus seated l. RIC 716. ANS 1944.100.49239. I have previously written about this Salus seated issue and I date the coins to 161 - c. 164 CE.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.20 g, 17.0 mm, 5 h.
Rome, 162-164 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust right (Beckmann type 7 hairstyle).
Rev: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter, peacock at feet.
Refs: RIC 696; BMCRE 118-120.; RSC 139a; RCV 5256; MIR 19-4/10b; CRE 192.

Notes: I have previously written about this reverse type and date it to 162-164 CE on the basis of the occasional all-round legend and the various hairstyles used with this reverse type.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius, 3.21 g, 18.4 mm, 7 h.
Rome, late 162 - early 163 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right (Beckmann Type 9 hairstyle).
Rev: FECVNDITAS, (Faustina as) Fecunditas standing right, holding scepter and infant.
Refs: RIC 677; BMCRE 91; Cohen 99; RCV 5252; MIR 9-4/10b; CRE 176.
Note: Issued to commemorate the birth of Marcus Annius Verus in late 162 CE. I have previously written about this type.

Exceptions to the Rule

The bronze coinage does not employ the all-round obverse legend. Beckmann postulates, "presumably the die-engraver responsible for the precious metals did not work on dies for the bronze."[7] This is illustrated on this sestertius of the FECVND AVGVSTAE reverse type.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman oricalchum sestertius, 22.36 gm, 33.7 mm, 12 h.
Rome, December 160 - early 161 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right.
Rev: FECVND AVGVSTAE S C, (Faustina as) Fecunditas standing left, between two children (thought to represent Faustina III and Lucilla), holding two infants in her arms (thought to represent Fadilla and Cornificia).
Refs: RIC 1635; BMCRE 902-904; Cohen 96; Strack 1336; RCV 5273; MIR 10.

The obverse inscriptions are broken when Faustina appears wearing a stephane, presumably to make room for this item of headgear without making the overall portrait too small. This is illustrated on this denarius of the SAECVLI FELICIT reverse type.

Faustina II, 147-175 CE.
Roman AR denarius; 3.36 g, 17.1 mm, 6 h.
Rome, September 161 - early 162 CE.
Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust, right, wearing stephane.
Rev: SAECVLI FELICIT, Throne, upon which are seated two infant boys, Commodus and Antoninus.
Refs: RIC 712; BMCRE 139; Cohen 191; RCV 5260; CRE 222; MIR 27-4/10a, b Diad.

Let's see your Antonine coins with "all-round" legends or anything you feel is relevant!

~~~

Notes

1. Strack, Paul L. Untersuchungen Zur Römischen Reichsprägung des Zweiten Jahrhunderts. Kohlhammer, 1937, p. 11.

2. All coins shown are from my own collection unless noted otherwise.

3. Beckmann, Martin, Faustina the Younger: Coinage, Portraits, and Public Image, A.N.S. Numismatic Studies 43, American Numismatic Society, New York, 2021, pp. 56, 58-59.

4. As Beckmann's die study (op. cit.) indicates, the SALVTI AVGVSTI aurei were issued over a period of several years beginning before the inscriptional change of AD 161 and continuing after the reappearance of the broken legends in AD 163.

5. Beckman, op. cit., pp. 83-84, 90.

6. Beckman, op. cit., p 90.

7. Beckman, op. cit., p. 57.

[ambr0zie]

Welcome back!

I have only one example (I was under the impression I have a few more)

17 mm, 3,16 g.
Faustina II 147-175. AR Denarius. December 160.
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, Draped bust right, hair in chignon behind / FECVND AVGVSTAE, Faustina as Fecunditas, standing front, head left, holding infant in each arm, two other young children standing beside her to left and right, holding onto her gown.
RIC III Marcus Aurelius 676; RSC II 95; Sear RCV II 5251; BMCRE 89

[CPK]

Thanks @Roman Collector - I have to leave for work shortly but will definitely give your post more attention later on! Even though it's not my special area of interest you always make it very interesting and engaging. Thanks for posting and I hope your health continues to improve!

[shanxi]

Nice write up:

I have Beckman, but I'm not at home for the next days.

Obviously I have not read the chapter carefully. I hadn't noticed that the common SALVS denarii were not mentioned. Why?

Faustina II
AR-Denar
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair tied in bun, circlet of pearls
Rev.: SALVS, Salus seated left, feeding snake twined around altar
Ag, 3.3g, 18mm
Ref.: RIC III 714a, CRE 212 [S]

 

Faustina II
AR-Denar
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair tied in bun, diadem
Rev.: SALVS, Salus seated left, feeding snake twined around altar
Ag, 3.07g, 17x18.8mm
Ref.: RIC III 714, CRE 213 [C]

[Roman Collector]

34 minutes ago, shanxi said:

Nice write up:

I have Beckman, but I'm not at home for the next days.

Obviously I have not read the chapter carefully. I hadn't noticed that the common SALVS denarii were not mentioned. Why?

Faustina II
AR-Denar
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair tied in bun, circlet of pearls
Rev.: SALVS, Salus seated left, feeding snake twined around altar
Ag, 3.3g, 18mm
Ref.: RIC III 714a, CRE 212 [S]

 

Faustina II
AR-Denar
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right, hair tied in bun, diadem
Rev.: SALVS, Salus seated left, feeding snake twined around altar
Ag, 3.07g, 17x18.8mm
Ref.: RIC III 714, CRE 213 [C]

That's an important addition to this essay. It's also interesting that even the stephaned bust version of the coin in your collection has an all-round legend.

I hadn't bothered looking for one of these denarii because Beckmann didn't list it!!! Now I must acquire one for my numophylacium!! Thanks for pointing out this coin's existence; it's now on my want-list!!

[Marsyas Mike]

Thanks for the latest and greatest FF @Roman Collector  Here's a continuous legend Faustina II oddity (at least based on your earlier observations:

Faustina II  Æ Sestertius (162-early-163 A.D.) Rome Mint FAVSTINAAVGVSTA, bare-headed, draped bust right / [FEC]VN[DITAS] S C,  Fecunditas standing right, holding scepter and infant. RIC III Marcus Aurelius 1638 var. (obverse legend; see note). (19.94 grams / 28 mm) eBay Oct. 2018    

 Notes:  This one has continuous obverse legend with no break; this coin on Roman Collector on CT Oct. 24, 2018 notes this is not in British Museum, Mattingly, etc.