Denarius of Faustina the Elder

The denarius of Faustina the Elder is a small silver coin of the Roman Empire bearing the veiled or draped portrait of Faustina I, wife of the emperor Antoninus Pius. The example shown carries her draped bust facing right on the obverse and a seated figure of Fortuna holding a rudder and cornucopia on the reverse, a pairing typical of her extensive posthumous coinage.

Although Faustina died early in her husband's reign, her image continued to appear on imperial silver for roughly two decades. These commemorative denarii were struck in large numbers, so surviving examples are relatively common and are among the more accessible portrait denarii of the Antonine period.

The coin is struck in good silver of the mid-second century, before the heavy debasement of later reigns, and typically shows a clear portrait accompanied by short Latin legends naming Faustina and describing the reverse figure.

Faustina the Elder (Annia Galeria Faustina) was the wife of Antoninus Pius, who became emperor in 138 AD. She died around 140–141 AD, only a few years into his long reign. In her memory Antoninus Pius had the Senate declare her a diva (a deified state figure), and he issued a vast and enduring series of commemorative coins in her honor from her death until his own in 161 AD.

Because these coins were posthumous memorial issues rather than lifetime portraits, they carry the legend DIVA FAVSTINA and celebrate her consecration and virtues. The reverses draw on a wide repertoire of deities and personifications, including Fortuna, Ceres, Aeternitas, Concordia, Pietas, and Venus, often paired with legends emphasizing eternity, piety, or good fortune.

The scale and duration of this memorial coinage made Faustina I one of the most frequently depicted women on Roman silver. The seated Fortuna type on this coin, holding a rudder to steer fortune and a cornucopia symbolizing abundance, fits the reassuring, benevolent imagery favored throughout the peaceful Antonine age.

Start with the obverse. A right-facing female bust, draped and often veiled with the hair arranged in a coiled bun, accompanied by the legend DIVA FAVSTINA, identifies the coin as a memorial denarius of Faustina the Elder. The word DIVA marks it as a posthumous, deified issue rather than a lifetime portrait.

The reverse of this example shows Fortuna seated, holding a rudder in one hand and a cornucopia in the other, with a surrounding Latin legend. Related reverse legends on the type include AVGVSTA, AETERNITAS, CERES, and similar words naming the figure or theme. Reading the reverse legend and identifying the attributes the figure holds narrows the exact variety.

Physically the coin is a denarius: a small silver piece roughly 17–19 mm in diameter and about 3 grams in weight. Genuine examples show honest wear, a toned silver surface, and hand-struck irregularities such as slightly off-center designs. There is no date on the coin; it is attributed to the roughly 141–161 AD memorial period by its legends and portrait style.

Denarii of Faustina the Elder are relatively common and remain among the more affordable Roman portrait denarii. Worn but clearly identifiable examples in circulated grades typically trade for modest sums, often in the range of a few tens of dollars, reflecting how many were struck and survive.

Value rises with sharper detail, attractive toning, full legends, and well-centered strikes. Higher-grade coins with a bold portrait, strong reverse, and pleasing surfaces command more, and scarcer reverse types or exceptional eye appeal can push prices well above the common range.

As with all ancient coins, condition, centering, and originality of surface drive price far more than mere age. Cleaned, corroded, or heavily worn pieces sit at the bottom of the range, while problem-free, sharply struck examples are the most sought after.