When you marry your cousin, who happens to be your stepsister ...

[Roman Collector]

An incestuous tale, told in denarii:

Post YOUR favorite Antonines!

Here's the Antonine family tree. This particular image is taken from a larger one that highlights the Augusti in pink.



At the center of all of this is Marcus Aurelius.

Marcus Aurelius, AR denarius, Rome, 169 CE. BMCRE 492.

His biological father, M. Annius Verus, had a sister, Faustina I.

Faustina I, AR denarius, Rome, 140-145 CE. BMCRE 311-314.

Therefore, Faustina I was Marcus Aurelius's biological AUNT.

Faustina I was married to Antoninus Pius.

Antoninus Pius, AR denarius, Rome, December, 160- March, 161 CE. BMCRE 1013-1014.

This made Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius's UNCLE by marriage.

Faustina I and Antoninus Pius had four children, only one of which survived to adulthood, their daughter, Faustina II.

Faustina II, AR Denarius, end of summer - late 151 CE, under Antoninus Pius. BMCRE 1078 note (Pius).

This made Faustina II Marcus Aurelius's biological COUSIN.

But when Hadrian's chosen successor, Aelius, died in AD 138, Hadrian chose Antoninus Pius to be his successor, on the condition that he adopt his wife Sabina's cousin twice-removed, Marcus Aurelius, along with Aelius's son, Lucius Verus, who was to marry Antoninus's daughter, Faustina II. Antoninius agreed and adopted Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, to whom was betrothed Faustina II.

Lucius Verus, AR Denarius, Rome, 168 CE. BMCRE 477.

This made Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius's STEPFATHER, Faustina I his STEPMOTHER, and Faustina II his STEPSISTER, and Lucius Verus his STEPBROTHER and future step-brother-in-law.

But when Hadrian died some six or seven months later, Antoninus Pius decided that Lucius Verus was too young to marry his daughter (he was seven years old at the time), Faustina II, and married her to Marcus Aurelius instead.

This made Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius's FATHER-IN-LAW, Faustina I his MOTHER-IN-LAW, and Faustina II his WIFE.

Now, Marcus Aurelius and Faustina II had many children, the oldest of which to survive to adulthood was Lucilla.

Lucilla, AR denarius, Rome, 164-166 CE. BMCRE 305-307.

This made Marcus Aurelius Lucilla's FATHER and FIRST COUSIN ONCE REMOVED.

To compensate for the loss of Faustina II as a wife some twenty years previously, Marcus Aurelius betrothed his daughter to Lucius Verus.

This made Marcus Aurelius Lucius Verus's FATHER-IN-LAW.

Got it? No? Let us recapitulate:

- Faustina I was Marcus Aurelius's biological aunt, stepmother, and mother-in-law.

- Antoninus Pius was Marcus Aurelius's uncle by marriage, stepfather, and father-in-law.

- Faustina II was Marcus Aurelius's biological cousin, stepsister, and wife.

- Lucius Verus was Marcus Aurelius's stepbrother and son-in-law.

- Lucilla was Marcus Aurelius's daughter and biological first cousin once-removed.

That's what you call KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY.

Edited January 5 by Roman Collector
New photo; I have OCD.

[CPK]

It's a bit of a mix-up!

 

[seth77]

Bamboozled.

[Sulla80]

Family trees were quite complex during the times of the Ptolemies and Seleucids as well - here's a picture of the Ptolemaic family bush:

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15205.png?v=1732052525-0

Being in these imperial families doesn't sound like much fun: one can only imagine the life of Cleopatra Thea who was married (by the decision of her father, Ptolemy VI) to a pretender to the Seleucid throne Alexander I Balas, then to Demetrius II, then his brother Antiochus VII, and ended up back with Demetrius again ruling over a truncated kingdom, only to become sole ruler, then co-regent with her son "Grypus" who then murdered her.

This portrait of Divus Antoninus Pius is one of my favorites:

 

 

[Qcumbor]

57 minutes ago, Roman Collector said:

Got it? No? Let us recapitulate:

- Faustina I was Marcus Aurelius's biological aunt, stepmother, and mother-in-law.
- Antoninus Pius was Marcus Aurelius's uncle by marriage, stepfather, and father-in-law.
- Faustina II was Marcus Aurelius's biological cousin, stepsister, and wife.
- Lucius Verus was Marcus Aurelius's stepbrother and son-in-law.
- Lucilla was Marcus Aurelius's daughter and biological first cousin once-removed.

That's what you call KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY.

Then you get Commodus as Emperor : you get what you deserve !

Q

[expat]

Well put together, interesting read.

Here are some of my Antonines.

Antoninus Pius

Faustina I

Fustina II

Marcus Aurelius

Lucilla

Commodus

And a very worn Lucius Verus

[seth77]

39 minutes ago, Sulla80 said:

Family trees were quite complex during the times of the Ptolemies and Seleucids as well - here's a picture of the Ptolemaic family bush:

https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/15205.png?v=1732052525-0

Being in these imperial families doesn't sound like much fun: one can only imagine the life of Cleopatra Thea who was married (by the decision of her father, Ptolemy VI) to a pretender to the Seleucid throne Alexander I Balas, then to Demetrius II, then his brother Antiochus VII, and ended up back with Demetrius again ruling over a truncated kingdom, only to become sole ruler, then co-regent with her son "Grypus" who then murdered her.

This portrait of Divus Antoninus Pius is one of my favorites:

 

 

It would have been impossible to mind your own business in such circumstances.

[Coinmaster]

Nice! I read somewhere Aelius was probably a real (basterd) son.

[Finn235]

Wonderful coins! I need to update this image with my handful of newest adds, but I haven't found the time or desk space lately

Some other members that I only recently became aware were members but did not rule during the period of 96 - 192 AD

Yes, Vitellius was Marcus Aurelius' great-great grandfather, as his daughter Vitellia was the mother of his beloved grandfather Marcus Annius Verus.

Titus technically divorced out of the family, but he was briefly married to Marcia Furnilla, and was thus Trajan's uncle.

 

I keep hearing conflicting information about whether Annia Faustina was the great granddaughter of Marcus Aurelius, or his sister. Interestingly, her lineage remained prominent until the late empire and goes cold - meaning that there is a very high probability that it survives to the present day, especially when considering illegitimate offspring.

Gordian III claimed descent from Aelius Caesar through his father Junius Balbus, whom he claimed was the grandson of Lucius Verus' sister.

 

Claudius II claimed that he (and his brothers?) was the bastard son(s) of Gordian II

Constantine of course claimed to be Claudius II's great nephew

Gallus was Constantine's nephew and son in law, and together they had a daughter named Anastasia, who was the great (...) grandmother of...

So there isn't really just a single dynasty - it's all just one big family!

[Gallienus]

You need to have those little colored yarn pieces connecting the coins together so that we can follow.

[Roman Collector]

2 hours ago, Finn235 said:

Wonderful coins! I need to update this image with my handful of newest adds, but I haven't found the time or desk space lately

Some other members that I only recently became aware were members but did not rule during the period of 96 - 192 AD

Yes, Vitellius was Marcus Aurelius' great-great grandfather, as his daughter Vitellia was the mother of his beloved grandfather Marcus Annius Verus.

Titus technically divorced out of the family, but he was briefly married to Marcia Furnilla, and was thus Trajan's uncle.

 

I keep hearing conflicting information about whether Annia Faustina was the great granddaughter of Marcus Aurelius, or his sister. Interestingly, her lineage remained prominent until the late empire and goes cold - meaning that there is a very high probability that it survives to the present day, especially when considering illegitimate offspring.

Gordian III claimed descent from Aelius Caesar through his father Junius Balbus, whom he claimed was the grandson of Lucius Verus' sister.

 

Claudius II claimed that he (and his brothers?) was the bastard son(s) of Gordian II

Constantine of course claimed to be Claudius II's great nephew

Gallus was Constantine's nephew and son in law, and together they had a daughter named Anastasia, who was the great (...) grandmother of...

So there isn't really just a single dynasty - it's all just one big family!

FANTASTIC summary and an impressive Antonine Dynasty collection!!! 

[Svessien]

I bought these two at the Leu web auction 28. Quite happy with both the portraits:

Lucius Verus, 161-169. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.53 g, 6 h), Rome, 164-165. L VERVS AVG ARMENIACVS Bare head of Lucius Verus to right. Rev. TR P V IMP II COS II Mars standing right, holding reversed spear with his right hand and resting his left on shield set on ground. BMC 376. Cohen 262. RIC 528. Well centered and sharply struck. Rough spot on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.

 

Lucilla, Augusta, 164-182. Denarius (Silver, 17 mm, 3.17 g, 12 h), Rome. LVCILLAE AVGVSTA Draped bust of Lucilla to right. Rev. CONCORDIA Concordia seated left, holding patera in her right hand and holding cornucopiae in her left. BMC 333. Cohen 7. RIC 759. A nicely toned example with a charming portrait. A few light scratches on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine

You have done well to specialize in a time period with interesting emperors and beautiful coins, I think.

[Svessien]

This, however, is my favorite Antonine coin, and perhaps a good reminder of what you may end up with when you marry your cousin, who happens to be your stepsister, and this settles the family culture: