Diva Faustina Senior (AD 138-140/1). AV aureus (19mm, 7.25 gm, 6h). NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 147-161. DIVA-FAVSTINA, draped bust of Diva Faustina I right, seen from front, hair elaborately waved in several loops around head under thin band, braided, drawn up and coiled on top with pearls / AVG-V-STA, Ceres (or Aeternitas) standing facing, veiled head left, raising a short lighted torch in each hand. RIC III (Antoninus Pius) 357a. Calicó 1758. Struck in high relief, with exceptional detail in the empress' coiffure and lovely bright, silky surfaces. Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3067 (6 September 2018), lot 30342. Annia Galeria Faustina was born into an aristocratic Roman senatorial family of Spanish descent. In about AD 115, she married Titus Fulvius Antoninus, a respected Senator, and through her connections he was tapped as Hadrian's successor. Antoninus succeeded to the throne in AD 138 and Faustina was acclaimed as Augusta. Antoninus honored her extensively and her vivacity, fashion sense and compassion for the poor made her very popular. Her distinctive hairstyle, with a tight coil adopt her head, was copied by women throughout the Empire. Only two years into the reign, Faustina died of an unknown illness; the grief-stricken emperor ordered her deification and an immense commemorative coinage. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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