How to Identify the Antoninianus of Salonina

Start with the obverse portrait. An antoninianus of Salonina shows a draped female bust facing right wearing a diadem or stephane, with the hair pulled back into a bun or braid. Unlike an emperor's radiate crown of spikes, an empress's bust on this denomination usually rests on a crescent, a strong signal that you are looking at the coinage of an imperial woman rather than a ruling emperor.

Read the encircling legend. A titulature built around SALONINA, most often SALONINA AVG or CORNELIA SALONINA AVG, confirms the identity. Because the portrait alone can resemble other third-century empresses, the name in the obverse legend is the decisive attribution step; do not rely on the face or hairstyle by itself.

Examine the reverse. Expect a single standing draped figure holding identifying attributes: Venus with an apple or helmet, Juno with a scepter and patera, Pietas at an altar, or Concordia with a cornucopia. The reverse legend names the type, so matching the figure's attributes to that legend is how you pin down the exact variety.

Check the physical coin. Diameter should fall roughly in the 20-23 mm range with a weight near 2.5-4 grams. The fabric is base billon, so a dark brown or grey surface, patchy silvering, or a copper-toned core is entirely normal for the period and is not by itself a sign of a fake.

Beware of look-alikes and cast copies. Antoniniani of other imperial women, and of Salonina from different mints, share the same format, so always confirm the obverse name. Genuine coins are struck with crisp detail on the high points, while casts often reveal an edge seam, tiny surface bubbles, and soft, mushy lettering. When authenticity or value matters, compare the exact obverse and reverse legends against a standard reference such as RIC.