shanxi's Top 10 Faustina II denarii of 2024

[shanxi]

Hello, here is the top 10 of my Faustina II denarii. A mixture selected according to beauty and/or rarity. 

 

1: IVNONI REGINAE with a rare hairstyle

Faustina II
AR-Denar, Rome, 160-163 CE
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right (Beckmann hairstytle type 8 )
Rev.: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno veiled, standing left, holding patera and sceptre; at her feet, a peacock.
Ag, 17 mm, 4.40 g, 6 h
Ref.: RIC III 694 var., CRE 194 var.

 

 

2: Concorida (long legend variation)

Faustina II
AR-Denarius
Obv.: : FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII FIL (all around), draped bust right (Beckmann hairstyle 2)
Rev.: CONCORDIA, Concordia seated left holding flower, resting elbow on cornucopia, which is by her chair; under chair globe.
Ag, 16.5 x 19.5mm, 3.4 g, 6h
Ref.: RIC III 502a6 (long legend variation), CRE 169 [R2]

 

 

3: A rare VENVS GENETRIX seated, (Beckmann hairstytle type 9)

Faustina II
Obv: FAVSTINA - AVGVSTA draped bust r., Beckmann hairstyle 9
Rev: VENVS - GENETRIX on l. and r., Venus seated l. holding Cupid or Victory? and scepter.
Ex Curtis Clay Collection
A rare type; only one specimen in Reka Devnia hoard.
Ref.: CRE 239 var. (hairstyle), BMCRE 173 var. (hairstyle), RIC 735 var.

 

 

4: Salus standing

Faustina II
Obv: FAVSTINA – AVGVSTA, Bust draped r., wearing stephane whose upper edge is ornamented with a row of pearls, Beckmann hairstyle 7
Rev: S - A - LVS on l. and r., Salus standing l. offering patera to snake rising from altar at her feet, and holding long scepter.
AR, 2.94g
Ref.: CRE 215 [S], RIC 715 var.
Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection

 

 

5: A left facing portrait

Faustina II
Obv: FAVSTINA A[VG - P]II AVG FIL, Bust draped left, Beckmann hairstyle 3
Rev: CONCORDIA Concordia seated l., holding flower in r. hand and resting l. elbow on cornucopia placed on globe.
AR, 3.00g
Ref.: CRE 170 [R2], Strack-506

 

 

6: IVNO, rare with diadem

 

Faustina Minor
AR-Denarius
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, pearl diademed bust right
Rev.: IVNO, Juno, veiled, standing left, patera in right, long scepter in left, peacock at feet
Ref.: RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 688 var. (diadem + Beckmann hairstyle 7), CRE 189 [R3]

 

 

7:  An interesting fouree

Faustina II.
Fouree denarius
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right (Beckmann haisrstyle 10)
Rev.: HILARITAS, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm and cornucopiae
Ag/AE, 2.80g, 16.5mm
Ref.: RIC 686 var., CRE 182 var. (fouree)

 

 

8: Pietas

Faustina II
AR-Denar, Rome mint, posthumous AD 176 - 181
Obv.: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, draped bust right
Rev.: CONSECRATIO, Pietas standing right, sacrificing on altar, and holding scepter (or torch ?)
Ag, 3.23g, 17.5mm
Ref.: RIC III 741 [S], CRE 203 [R2]

 

 

9: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus seated (Beckmann hairstytle type 7)

Faustina II
AR-Denar, Rome mint
Obv.: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust right (Beckmann hairstytle type 7)
Rev.: VENVS GENETRIX, Venus seated left, holding Victory and sceptre.
Ag, 3.59g
Ref.: CRE 239 [R2]
Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection

 

10: rare peacock standing left

Faustina II
AR-Denar, Rome mint, posthumous AD 176 - 181
Obv.: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, draped bust right
Rev.: CONSECRATIO, peacock standing left with head turned right, tail and wings closed
Ag, 2.93g
Ref.: RIC -, CRE -, possibly one specimen of this denarius in the Reka Devnia hoard.
Ex Curtis L. Clay Collection; ex Grotjohann

[savitale]

Wow. What a focused collection! I wonder if collecting one of every type is possible. I pick #8 for the toning.

[Qcumbor]

Rare + Peacock + Ex Curtis Clay = SCORE !!

Q

[shanxi]

1 hour ago, savitale said:

I wonder if collecting one of every type is possible. 

It is at least the goal, regardless of whether it ever works or not. I have around a hundred types and I'm still 15-20 short . In addition, there are certainly several other types that I am not aware of at the moment. But it would also be boring to have everything.

[Roman Collector]

I chose the VENVS GENETRIX with the Type 9 hairstyle because it is one that I don't have! Here's an obverse die-match to your #1 coin.

[panzerman]

I like the peacock one best! You are the opposite of me/ I am VERY unfocused🙄

 

Congratulation on your top ten!

John

 

[Sulla80]

Great Faustina Top 10 @shanxi - the Salus Standing caught my interest.  Best wishes for 2025!

[shanxi]

1 hour ago, panzerman said:

I am VERY unfocused

but very focussed on one metal 

[JAZ Numismatics]

Wow, very impressive set of denarii, and very focused collecting. Bravo!

[DonnaML]

I haven't voted yet, because I can't decide whether I like # 1 or # 8 the best -- in both cases, it would be for the portrait. (My choices in buying and appreciating ancient coins are based 99% on eye appeal, and 1% on rarity and historical significance. To each their own!)

[JayAg47]

I always like the look of Faustina with the stephane, so number 4 and 6, although it says pearl diadem on no 6, but to me they both look the same. 

[MrMonkeySwag96]

#5, I like left facing portraits on Imperial denarii

[ambr0zie]

Undoubtedly, the best coin in the list is the Faustina! The Faustina II to be more precise.

Now on a serious note, hats off for assembling such a specialized collection, for you and all the other members who specialize on a narrow niche. 

I voted #5 because I like left facing busts, but all coins are rare and desirable. 

Edited December 15, 2024 by ambr0zie

[robinjojo]

Nice Faustina II denarii!  My favorite is #6.