Obverse: FAVSTINA AVG ANTONINI AVG PII P P, Draped bust of Faustina Senior facing right.

Reverse: VENERI AVGVSTAE, Venus standing right, adjusting drapery on right shoulder and holding apple.

RIC: 1081. Sear: 4677. BMCRE: 1120. [Rome, AD 139].

Diameter: 33 mm. Weight: 25.1 g

A very fine brass sestertius of Faustina Senior. struck the year after her husband Antoninus Pius took the purple. Faustina was granted the title of Augusta early in AD 139, tragically, within two years she was dead. Her lifetime coinage is considerably scarcer than the posthumous issues struck in her honour by her grieving husband. After death she was venerated as a goddess, and the cult of Diva Faustina was widespread across the Roman world. Her elaborate hairstyle consisting of braids tied into a bun was admired and commonly imitated for several generations. This is a quality specimen, perfectly centred with an attractive dark patina.