Faustina the Elder (Annia Galeria Faustina, (c. 100 – late October 140) was the wife of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and the mother of Faustina the Younger, who later became Empress herself. She was the daughter of the consul Marcus Annius Verus and Rupilia Faustina.
Her family belonged to the Roman upper class, and as an heiress, she brought a considerable fortune into the marriage. Faustina the Elder married Antoninus Pius around 110.
4 children were born in this marriage: two sons, Marcus Aurelius Fulvus Antoninus and Marcus Galerius Aurelius Antoninus, and two daughters, Aurelia Fadilla and Faustina the Younger. The latter later married her cousin, the future Emperor Marcus Aurelius.
After Antoninus Pius was elevated to Emperor in 138, Faustina the Elder was elevated to Augusta (Empress). However, she died in 140, before her husband’s reign began.
In recognition of her merits, Antoninus Pius had her deified (diva) after her death and erected the Temple of Antoninus Pius and Faustina in the Roman Forum in her honor.
This temple was later dedicated to him and is now known as the Church of San Lorenzo in Miranda.
Faustina the Elder was the first Roman empress to receive a temple in the Roman Forum after her death, underscoring her importance and veneration in Roman society.
Roman Empire AV Aureus (138-161) Faustina The Elder, XF- Rare
13,270.00 US$
Weight 7,23gr. – Gold Ø 19mm.
Obv. Draped bust of Faustina right, hair elaborately waved in several loops round head and drawn up and coiled on top, surrounded by the legend DIVA – FAVSTINA
Rev. Peacock, walking right on a long sceptre, head turned back left, surrounded by the legend CONSECRATIO
One important aspect of Roman religion, particularly for the imperial family, was the concept of consecration, the process by which a deceased person became a divine being and was transported to the divine realm to join the pantheon of gods. The eagle of Zeus or the peacock of Juno carried the departed to the heavens. The coins of this issue were the first to depict the peacock of Juno in the context of the consecration of a Roman empress. This association was only natural as Juno was the heavenly queen, Faustina I was the earthly queen. The peacock is walking right or left along a scepter, the hasta pura designating Juno’s authority. These coins were part of a series of issues that commenced in AD 150 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Faustina’s death and deification. On the aurei, the peacock may walk either right or left, and on the denarii, the bust type may be bare-headed or veiled. Slight stylistic variations may occur in the empress’s hairstyle.
Very attractive historical coin with fine details. Rare.
Catalog: Cohen 174 | RIC 384 | BMC 472 | Calicó 1783 Strack 453 | Sear 4559 R
XF
Imperial Gold Aureus Antoninus Pius for Faustina Maior after 141. EF- UNC
11,250.00 US$
Aureus after 141, Rome. DIVA FAVSTINA bust to the right / AVGV-STA Ceres standing with torch and scepter.
Catalog: RIC 356 a, Cohen 95, Friedberg 270. 7.27 g. Specimen from the auction at Kurpfälzische Münzhandlung 29, Mannheim 1985, No. 165
A superb specimen.
Roman Empire, Faustina Senior, Wife of Antoninus Pius (AD138-161) AV Aureus
6,975.00 US$
Material: Gold
Weight: 7.16 g – Diameter 19 mm
Obv: DIVA FAVSTINA draped bust right, hair waved and coiled on top of head,
Rev. AVGVSTA Ceres standing facing, head left, holding lighted torch in right hand and short vertical sceptre in left
Catalog: Cohen, 95; RIC, 356a; Calicó, 1763b NGC Choice Very Fine.
ROMAN EMPIRE AV Aureus after 141 A.D. – Diva Faustina the Elder – GVF
5,025.00 US$
Material: Gold
Weight: 7.00 g – Diameter: 19.50 mm
ROMAN EMPIRE – Nerva–Antonine Dynasty – Diva Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius
AV Aureus – gold – Rome Mint – after 141 A.D.
Obverse: Bust of Faustina the Elder, veiled and draped, to right, her hair elaborately waved and coiled on top; legend around.
O/legend: DIVA – FAVSTINA
Reverse: Ceres standing to left, veiled and draped, holding a torch in right hand and short vertical sceptre in left; legend around.
R/legend: AVGV – STA•
Edge: plain
Alignment: coin
Technique: hammered
Condition: GVF, slight scratches on obverse; portrait in high relief; fine patina.
Provenance: ex private collection V.D.W. (BE), until November 2019
References: RIC III Antoninus Pius 356b; BMCRE 397; Cohen 97; Sear (RCV, 2002) 4553 (var.)
Rarity index: R1
Historic context: Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture and grain, but also the love a mother bears for her child. Therefore we can assume that her image in combination with the legend is a reference to the mother-daughter relationship between Faustina the Elder and her daughter, the new empress or “Augusta”, Faustina the Younger.
2,020.00 US$
Catalog: RIC 1081 ; Cohen 282
Material: Bronze
Weight: 24.82 g – Diameter: 32.50 mm
Roman Empire – Faustina I Senior (Augusta, 138-141) – AE Sestertius – Rome – c. 139 AD
Obv.: Draped bust of Faustina Senior facing right ; elaborate hairstyle consisting of braids tied into a bun: FAVSTINA AVG AN – TONINI AVG PII P P
Rev.: Venus standing right, adjusting drapery on right shoulder and holding apple: VENERI – AVGVSTAE
Provenance: Ex P.& P. Santamaria – Roma (13-3-1953): Collezioni già del Prof. Angelo Signorelli III parte. Monete dell’impero romano ( da Nerva a Romolo Augusto) monete dell’ impero d’Oriente./ N.414 ; sold with old handwritten collector’s label mentioning the auction provenance.
Ancient Roman Faustina I, Diva. Sestertius
1,310.00 US$
Material: Bronze
Weight: 26.84 g
Catalog: BM-1507, C-69 (25 Fr.), RIC-1115.
Obv: DIVA FAV – STINA Bust draped r. Rx: AETERNITAS in exergue, S – C in field, six-columned temple containing statue of Diva Faustina seated front; standing statues on bases l. and r. in front of outermost columns; figures in pediment, on roof frontal quadriga and two Victories holding shields above their heads; fence before temple.
Acquired from Frank Kovacs, December 1985. The temple pictured on this coin still exists today. VF
Roman Empire Sestertius 138 – 141 Faustina the Elder good VF
685.00 US$
Material: Bronze
Weight: 24.17 g
Diameter: 32.20 mm
Venus n. re.
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