Roman Collector Posted January 3 · Patron Posted January 3 (edited) Friday felicitations, fellow Faustina fanatics! I hope you have a wonderful 2025! In April 2023, I discussed the coins of Faustina the Younger's extensive IVNONI REGINAE issue. If you'll recall, I dated the coins of that issue depicting Juno standing to 162-164 CE based on the use of the "all-round" legend and the various hairstyles seen on the issue. In addition, I discussed the Juno seated type bearing the IVNONI REGINAE reverse legend and dated them to 164-165 CE. This week's installment of Faustina Friday will be devoted to a subsequent issue of nearly identical designs but bearing the reverse inscription IVNO. The IVNO standing left issue, like its IVNONI REGINAE predecessor, was a massive issue and was struck in the aureus, denarius, sestertius, and middle bronze denominations. On this issue, Faustina appears wearing any of her final three hairstyles. She may be bare-headed or she may wear a stephane. She may face left on the denarius. A peacock may or may not appear on the Juno standing type in the denarius denomination. In contrast, the coinage depicting the goddess enthroned was limited to the denarius denomination and she is only depicted bare-headed and right-facing, wearing either the Beckmann type 7 or type 9 hairstyles. Overall, the coins of Faustina with IVNO standing reverse types are quite commonly encountered in the numismatic trade. The sheer number of these coins and the variety of bust types that appear on them suggests they were issued in large quantities over a period of perhaps three to five years. Dating them, however, is tricky, because the aureus of this reverse type is known from at most two specimens,[1] only one of which was available for Beckmann to examine for his die-linkage study of Faustina's aurei. Thus, it's unclear how much information based upon a single aureus can be generalized to the numerous silver and bronze coins with this reverse type. The IVNO seated type was only issued in the denarius denomination and is less commonly encountered in the numismatic trade (Temeryazev and Makarenko rate them "scarce"[2]). Given the more limited range of bust types and hairstyles, it appears to have been issued in lesser quantities and for a shorter period. Moreover, because it was not issued in the aureus denomination, it falls outside the purview of Beckmann's die linkage study of Faustina's aurei and is therefore difficult to date. The Various Denominations and Varieties This is an attempt to illustrate the various denominations and varieties of this reverse type. Wherever possible, I illustrate the varieties with specimens from my own collection, supplementing as necessary with specimens from museum collections and coins sold at auction. While I attempt to be complete in terms of bust types and hairstyles found on the various denominations, there may be some with which I am unfamiliar. I encourage the reader to submit links and photos of varieties I may have omitted. JUNO STANDING Aureus Aureus of the Juno standing type (RIC 687). Beckmann Type 9 bust. Possibly unique, this specimen was the only one available to Beckmann for his die-linkage study of the aurei of Faustina the Younger. Rollin & Feuardent, 20-28 April 1896, lot 409. Denarius Beckmann Type 7 Bust Bare-Headed Faustina II, 147-175 CE. Roman AR denarius, 2.78 g, 18.2 mm, 11 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet. Refs: RIC 688; BMCRE 107-108; RSC 120a; RCV 5255; CRE 188. Without Peacock on Reverse Faustina II, 147-175 CE. Roman AR denarius, 2.84 g, 16.7 mm, 11 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter. Refs: RIC—; BMCRE 111; RSC 120d; RCV –; CRE 187. Notes: Although one might postulate the absence of the peacock represents an unintentional omission by the die-engraver, at least four different reverse dies were used in the production of this reverse design variety, indicating it was purposeful. Wearing Stephane Faustina II, 147-175 CE. Roman AR denarius, 3.01 g, 19.6 mm, 1 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, wearing stephane. Rev: IVNO, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet. Refs: RIC 688 var. (stephane); BMCRE 109; RSC 120b; RCV 5255 var. (stephane); CRE 189. Beckmann Type 9 Bust Right-Facing Faustina Jr, 147-175 CE. Roman AR Denarius, 3.42 g, 17.6 mm, 7 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 9 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock. Refs: RIC 688; BMC 106; Cohen 120; RCV 5255; CRE 188. Left-Facing Denarius with a left-facing bust (RIC –). British Museum collection, BMCRE 110. Beckmann Type 10 Bust Faustina Jr, 147-175 CE. Roman AR Denarius, 3.54 g, 18.4 mm, 6 h. Rome, 169-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 10 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock. Refs: RIC 688; BMC 105; Cohen 120; RCV 5255; CRE 190. Sestertius Beckmann Type 7 Bust Bare-Headed Faustina Jr, 147-175 CE. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.86 g, 31.05 mm, 5 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock. Refs: RIC 1645; BMC 914-15; Cohen 121; RCV –. Wearing Stephane Faustina Jr, 147-175 CE. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 25.44 g, 30.4 mm, 12 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, draped bust, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle, wearing stephane. Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock. Refs: RIC 1646; BMC 917; Cohen 122; RCV 5276. Beckmann Type 9 Bust Sestertius with the Beckmann Type 9 hairstyle, Numismatik Naumann, Auction 65, lot 640, 6 May 2018. Beckmann Type 10 Bust Faustina II, 147-175 CE. Roman orichalcum sestertius, 24.53 g, 30.2 mm, 6 h. Rome, 169-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann Type 10 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO S C, Juno standing left, holding patera and scepter; peacock at feet. Refs: RIC –.; BMCRE 916; Cohen –; RCV –. Medium Bronze Beckmann Type 7 Bust Bare-Headed Faustina Jr, 147-175 CE. Roman Æ as or dupondius, 12.76 g, 24.7 mm, 6 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 7 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock. Refs: RIC 1647; BMCRE 984; Cohen 123; RCV 5297. Wearing Stephane Medium bronze with a stephaned bust. Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 98, lot 1213, 12 December 2016. Beckmann Type 9 Bust Faustina Jr, 147-175 CE. Roman orichalcum dupondius, 11.28 g, 23.3 mm, 1 h. Rome, 166-170 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann type 9 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled, draped, standing left, holding patera in extended right hand and scepter in left hand; at left, peacock. Refs: RIC 1647; BMCRE 983; Cohen 123; RCV 5297. Beckmann Type 10 Bust Æ as with the Beckmann Type 10 hairstyle, Triskeles Auctions, Sale 24, lot 187, 16 July 2018. JUNO SEATED Beckmann Type 7 Bust Faustina II, 147-175 CE. Roman AR denarius, 3.18 g, 17.1 mm, 7 h. Rome, 165-168 CE. Obv: FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, bare-headed and draped bust, right, Beckmann Type 7 hairstyle. Rev: IVNO, Juno, veiled and draped, seated left, holding patera in extended right hand and vertical scepter in left hand; at her feet, peacock. Refs: RIC 689 var.; BMCRE 114; RSC 126a; RCV –; CRE 184. Beckmann Type 9 Bust Denarius with the Beckmann Type 9 hairstyle (RIC 689), British Museum collection, BMCRE 115. Dating the issues I think we are on safe ground when assigning a relative chronology between the IVNONI REGINAE standing reverse type and the IVNO standing reverse type: the IVNONI REGINAE reverse type was issued earlier. The IVNONI REGINAE standing version is not known with Beckmann type 9 hairstyle, but is known with the earlier type 5 hairstyle, whereas the IVNO standing version is not known with the earlier type 5 hairstyle but is known with the final type 10 hairstyle. Establishing an absolute chronology is only possible because the reverse design was used on the aureus version of the IVNO issue. Beckmann's die study of her aurei indicates the reverse type appears on the aurei in AD 166. Beckmann's Group 18 demonstrates an obverse die linkage between an aureus of the IVNO reverse type and one with the HILARITAS reverse type, convincingly dated to AD 166 to celebrate the Roman victory over the Parthians in that year.[3] On the obverse of the IVNO reverse type, the empress is depicted sporting the Beckmann type 9 hairstyle. However, an examination of the empress's hairstyles on both the silver and bronze issues demonstrates the empress appears in her final, type 10 hairstyle. This hairstyle does not appear on aurei until after the death of Lucius Verus in AD 169.[4] Therefore, the issue was in production through at least that year. A date of AD 166-170 seems reasonable for the coins depicting the empress in her type 7 and type 9 hairstyles and a date of AD 169-170 for those depicting the empress in the type 10 hairstyle. It is a much more daunting task to assign a chronology to the IVNO seated reverse type. This reverse type, like its IVNONI REGINAE counterpart, was only issued in the denarius denomination, meaning it cannot be dated by means of Beckmann's die-linkage study of the aurei. We must rely on stylistic concerns, which is much more subject to error. The IVNO seated version of the coin typically has the type 7 hairstyle but is well-known with the type 9 hairstyle. Szaivert suggests the appearance of this hairstyle coincides with Lucilla's marriage to Lucius Verus in AD 164.[5] This is consistent with Beckmann's dating of the type 9 hairstyle, which is most common at the very end of his die-linkage chain 7.[6]. It seems likely that, as with the IVNO standing version of the coin, the IVNO enthroned version was issued after its IVNONI REGINAE counterpart, but this has in no way been proven. Did the IVNO seated version of the coin appear before the standing version of the coin? Was it issued alongside the IVNO standing version? Even a relative chronology is impossible to establish. I assign the IVNO enthroned reverse type a date of AD 165-168 accordingly, to allow for the possibility of it being issued before the IVNO standing type as well as acknowledging the possibility of simultaneous production of the two types. Production of the coin certainly had ceased, however, by the time the empress's final hairstyle was introduced no earlier than AD 169. The purpose of the issue The issue does not appear to have been issued to commemorate any specific event in the life of Faustina the Younger; rather, it appears to be what is termed an allegorical type. As with the IVNO issues of her mother,[7] the IVNO issues of Faustina the Younger imply that the empress is queen on earth, just as Juno is queen of the gods.[8] Let's see your coins of Juno, Faustina Jr, or whatever you feel is relevant! ~~~ Notes 1. Cohen (no. 119) cites a specimen in the French national collection; Cohen, in turn, is cited by RIC (no. 687) and BMCRE4 (104n). Nonetheless, Szaivert was unable to cite a specimen in any of the museums he consulted, which includes the Bibliothèque nationale de France, and the specimen cited by Cohen is apparently no longer in the collection. Calicó illustrates a specimen but does not cite the source. It is apparent upon examination of the photographs that the specimen illustrated and cited by Beckmann (pp. 62 and 198) as Rollin & Feuardent, 20-28 April 1896, lot 409 is the same coin illustrated by Calicó. 2. Temeryazev, S. A., and T. P. Makarenko. The Coinage of Roman Empresses. San Bernardino, CreateSpace, 2017, no. 184, p. 65. 3. Beckmann, Martin, Faustina the Younger: Coinage, Portraits, and Public Image, A.N.S. Numismatic Studies 43, American Numismatic Society, New York, 2021, p. 63. 4. Beckmann, op. cit., pp. 64-65. 5. Szaivert, Wolfgang, Die Münzprägung der Kaiser Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus und Commodus (161/192), Moneta Imperii Romani 18. Vienna, 1989, no. 19-7(a), p. 231. Specifically, Szaivert writes, "Die vielgestaltige Venus-Prägung erlaubt einen Bezug zur Hochzeit der Tochter der Faustina (Lucilla) mit dem regierenden zweiten Augustus Lucius Verus anzunehmen." 6. Beckmann, op. cit., p. 60. Beckmann demonstrates however, contra Szaivert, the Type 9 hairstyle first appears simultaneously with the Type 7 coiffure on coins issued in 161 after the birth of Faustina's twins. However, it does not become dominant until the mid-late 160s. 7. Mattingly, Harold. Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum. Vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian, British Museum, 1966, p. lii. 8. Mattingly, op. cit., p. cxxxi. Edited January 18 by Roman Collector New photo 7 1 Quote
ominus1 Posted January 3 · Patron Posted January 3 ...now that's the way to start a Friday on a new year RC... 🙂 E Pluribus Unum...! 1 1 Quote
Roman Collector Posted January 5 · Patron Author Posted January 5 On 1/3/2025 at 7:14 AM, ominus1 said: ...now that's the way to start a Friday on a new year RC... 🙂 E Pluribus Unum...! Thank you for reading and for your kind words! Have a great new year! 1 Quote
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