Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 117 1 Oct 2019
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Faustina I, wife of Antoninus Pius. Diva Faustina I. Aureus after 141, AV 6.97 g. DIVA FAV – STINA Draped and veiled bust l. Rev. AVGV – STA Ceres, veiled, standing l., holding torch in r. hand and sceptre in l. C 98. BMC A. Pius 398. RIC A. Pius 356d. Calicó 1765 (this coin).
An extremely elegant left facing portrait of fine style. Extremely fine
Ex NFA 14, 1984, 419 and NAC 38, 2007, a Refined Connoisseur of Portraiture, 69 sales. From the collection of a Retired Banker.
The obverse portrait is also notable and extremely rare for its depiction of Faustina. On her funerary coinage she normally appears bare headed to show off the intricately braided hairstyle for which she was famous. However, here she is shown wearing a veil and a stephane. These attributes were probably intended to equate the deified empress with Juno, the chief goddess of the Roman pantheon who was wife to Jupiter (the obvious divine equivalent to the emperor) and patron of marriage.
An extremely elegant left facing portrait of fine style. Extremely fine
Ex NFA 14, 1984, 419 and NAC 38, 2007, a Refined Connoisseur of Portraiture, 69 sales. From the collection of a Retired Banker.
The obverse portrait is also notable and extremely rare for its depiction of Faustina. On her funerary coinage she normally appears bare headed to show off the intricately braided hairstyle for which she was famous. However, here she is shown wearing a veil and a stephane. These attributes were probably intended to equate the deified empress with Juno, the chief goddess of the Roman pantheon who was wife to Jupiter (the obvious divine equivalent to the emperor) and patron of marriage.