Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3061 7-8 Jan 2018
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Diva Faustina Senior (died AD 140/1). AV aureus (20mm, 7.25 gm, 6h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, under Antoninus Pius, ca. AD 146-161. DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust of Faustina right, haired coiled atop head / AETERNITAS, Fortuna standing left, holding globe in outstretched right hand and ship's tiller in left. RIC (Pius) 348. Cohen 5. BMCRE (Pius) 359. Calicó 1747 (S5). An absolutely stunning aureus, deeply struck on a broad flan, with a captivating portrait and reverse of uncommon artistry, the fields displaying mirror-like luster.
Ex George P. La Borde Collection (NAC 91, 23 May 2016), lot 23 (realized $40,000 hammer); William H. Williams Collection (NAC 31, 26 October 2005), lot 52.
Only two years into Antoninus' reign, his wife Faustina died of an unknown illness. The grief-stricken Antoninus secured her deification and issued an immense coinage in her name, the largest for any Roman woman to that point. While the staid Roman historians of later eras criticized her lack of "gravitas," Antoninus was devoted to her and the cult he established in her name became exceedingly popular, particularly with women. Her temple was later also consecrated to Divus Antoninus upon his death and deification, and is one of the few Roman structures that survives more or less intact in the Forum today. This elegant aureus is a rare variant that depicts a beautifully modeled figure of Fortuna, goddess of good fortune, holding both a globe and tiller.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 25000-35000 USD
Diva Faustina Senior (died AD 140/1). AV aureus (20mm, 7.25 gm, 6h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, under Antoninus Pius, ca. AD 146-161. DIVA FAVSTINA, draped bust of Faustina right, haired coiled atop head / AETERNITAS, Fortuna standing left, holding globe in outstretched right hand and ship's tiller in left. RIC (Pius) 348. Cohen 5. BMCRE (Pius) 359. Calicó 1747 (S5). An absolutely stunning aureus, deeply struck on a broad flan, with a captivating portrait and reverse of uncommon artistry, the fields displaying mirror-like luster.
Ex George P. La Borde Collection (NAC 91, 23 May 2016), lot 23 (realized $40,000 hammer); William H. Williams Collection (NAC 31, 26 October 2005), lot 52.
Only two years into Antoninus' reign, his wife Faustina died of an unknown illness. The grief-stricken Antoninus secured her deification and issued an immense coinage in her name, the largest for any Roman woman to that point. While the staid Roman historians of later eras criticized her lack of "gravitas," Antoninus was devoted to her and the cult he established in her name became exceedingly popular, particularly with women. Her temple was later also consecrated to Divus Antoninus upon his death and deification, and is one of the few Roman structures that survives more or less intact in the Forum today. This elegant aureus is a rare variant that depicts a beautifully modeled figure of Fortuna, goddess of good fortune, holding both a globe and tiller.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 25000-35000 USD