| Heritage World Coin Auctions > CSNS Signature Sale 3115 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 32279 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients Diva Faustina Senior (AD 138-140/1). AV aureus (20mm, 7.21 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5, edge marks. 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. Calicó 1743. RIC III (Antoninus Pius) 349a. Absolutely gorgeous specimen with a beautiful, matronly portrait of Diva Faustina Senior. The artist seemed to pay particularly close attention to the details of her intricate hairstyle. 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-20mm-721-gm-6h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-3-5-edge-marks/a/3115-32279.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3115-05082024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
