Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3081 12-13 Jan 2020
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Ancients
Diva Faustina Senior (AD 138-140/1). AV aureus (19mm, 7.34 gm, 5h). NGC MS★ 5/5 – 4/5, Fine Style. Rome, ca. AD 146-161. DIVA-FAVSTINA, draped bust of Diva Faustina Senior right, seen from front, hair elaborately waved in several loops around head under thin band, braided, drawn up and coiled on top with pearls / AETER-NITAS, Fortuna standing facing, head left, patera in outstretched right hand, rudder in left. RIC III (Antoninus Pius) 349a. Calicó 1743.
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 patera and tiller.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-diva-faustina-senior-ad-138-140-1-av-aureus-19mm-734-gm-5h-ngc-msand-9733-5-5-4-5-fine-style/a/3081-32065.s?type=CoinArchives3081
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD
Diva Faustina Senior (AD 138-140/1). AV aureus (19mm, 7.34 gm, 5h). NGC MS★ 5/5 – 4/5, Fine Style. Rome, ca. AD 146-161. DIVA-FAVSTINA, draped bust of Diva Faustina Senior right, seen from front, hair elaborately waved in several loops around head under thin band, braided, drawn up and coiled on top with pearls / AETER-NITAS, Fortuna standing facing, head left, patera in outstretched right hand, rudder in left. RIC III (Antoninus Pius) 349a. Calicó 1743.
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 patera and tiller.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-diva-faustina-senior-ad-138-140-1-av-aureus-19mm-734-gm-5h-ngc-msand-9733-5-5-4-5-fine-style/a/3081-32065.s?type=CoinArchives3081
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 6000-8000 USD