Roman bronze coin sestertius- Diva Faustina Senior, AD 146-161, thick and heavy. Weight: 26.45 g Diameter: 30 mm Thickness: 4 mm; Obverse: Draped bust right with inscription around: DIVA FAUSTINA Reverse: Juno, standing, raising arm and holding scepter Struck under Antonius Pius, circa AD 146/7-161 Beautiful tan-brown patina, Fine/ EF Description: The Roman Empire, Diva Faustina I, wife of Antoninus Pius, Diva Faustina. Sestertius after 141 AD, Draped bust r. Rev. Juno standing l., holding patera and sceptre. C 210. BMC A. Pius 1532. RIC A. Pius 1143. Ex Lanz 125, 2005, 775 and NAC 51, 2009, 1014 sales. References: Faustina the Elder Annia Galeria Faustina, more familiarly referred to as Faustina I (Latin: Faustina Major; born on September 21, in about 100; died in October or November of 140[1]), was a Roman Empress and wife of Roman Emperor Antonius Pius. Early life Faustina was the only known daughter of consul and prefect Marcus Annius Verus and Rupilia Faustina. Her brothers were consul Marcus Annius Libo and praetor Marcus Annius Verus. Her maternal aunts were Roman Empress Vibia Sabina and Matidia Minor. Her paternal grandfather had the same name as her father and her maternal grandparents were Salonina Matidia (niece of Roman Emperor Trajan) and suffect consul Lucius Scribonius Libo Rupilius Frugi Bonus. Faustina was born and raised in Rome. As a private citizen, she married Antoninus Pius between 110 and 115. Faustina and Antoninus had a very happy marriage. Faustina bore Antoninus four children, two sons and two daughters. They were: • Marcus Aurelius Fulvius Antoninus (died before 138); his sepulchral inscription has been found at the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome. • Marcus Galerius Aurelius Antoninus (died before 138); his sepulchral inscription has been found at the Mausoleum of Hadrian in Rome. His name appears on a Greek Imperial coin. • Aurelia Fadilla (died in 135); she married Aelius Lamia Silvanus or Syllanus. She appears to have had no children with her husband and her sepulchral inscription has been found in Italy. • Annia Galeria Faustina Minor or Faustina the Younger (between 125-130-175), a future Roman Empress; she married her maternal cousin, future Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. She was the only child who survived to adulthood. Empress On July 10, 138, her uncle, Emperor Hadrian, died and her husband became the new emperor, as Antoninus was Hadrian's adopted son and heir. Faustina became Roman Empress and the Senate accorded her the title of Augusta. As empress, Faustina was well respected and was renowned for her beauty and wisdom. The Augustan History criticized her as having "excessive frankness" and "levity". Throughout her life, as a private citizen and as empress, Faustina was involved in assisting charities for the poor and sponsoring and assisting in the education of Roman children, particularly girls. She can be viewed as one of the most moral, stable and respected empresses in the history of the Roman Empire. When Faustina died, Antoninus was in complete mourning for Faustina. Legacy Antoninus did the following in memory of his wife: • Deified her as a goddess (her apotheosis was portrayed on an honorary column) • Had the Temple of Faustina built in the Roman Forum, with priestesses in the temple. • Had various coins with her portrait struck in her honor. These coins were inscribed DIVA FAVSTINA ("Divine Faustina") and were elaborately decorated. • Founded a charity called Puellae Faustinianae or Girls of Faustina, which assisted orphaned girls. • Created a new alimenta (see Grain supply to the city of Rome). In 2008, archaeologists digging at the ancient site of Sagalassos in Turkey discovered a colossal marble head which is believed to be that of Faustina. Roman Imperial Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 21.97 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, circa AD 146/7-161. Draped bust right / Juno standing facing, head left, raising arm and holding sceptre. RIC III 1102 (Antoninus Pius); Banti 14. VF, brown patina, even...

EF, genuine patina