Watch List notes:

ROMAN AND BYZANTINE COINS

Faustina I. Augusta, AD 138-140/1. As (Copper, 27mm, 12.03 g 12), Rome. FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII PP Draped bust of Faustina I to right, her hair piled on top of her head and bound with pearls. Rev. VENERI AVGVSTAE S C Venus, draped, standing right, drawing up her drapery with her right hand and holding an apple with her left. BMC 1132. Cohen 283. RIC 1097. With a fine portrait, sharply struck and well centered, and a fine dark patina. Some smoothing in the patina of the reverse fields, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a Swiss collection, ex Hess-Leu 28, 5 May 1965, 426 and from the collection of F. Martinetti, Sangiorgi, Sambon & Canessa, 18 November 1907, 2161.

The lifetime issues of Faustina I are much less common than those issued in her honor after her death in 141. This piece is remarkably well struck and shows her as a very noble looking woman, almost severe.