We have another stunning Aureus of the Roman Empire for this Ancient coin
preview of the Stack’s Bowers Galleries August 2017 ANA World’s Fair of Money
Auction. Faustina Junior was the daughter of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and
married her maternal cousin and future emperor Marcus Aurelius. They enjoyed a
loving marriage together, which was not always the norm for Roman emperors and
their spouses. Faustina would routinely accompany her husband on his military
campaigns, and earned the devotion of the soldiers accompanying them. She
earned the nickname of “Mater Castrorum” (Mother of the Camp).
The Aureus we will offer in our August auction features a right facing
bust of Faustina, her hair in waves and bound behind her head in a bun and she
is clad in a simple drapery. The reverse design showcases the Roman deity
Salus, patron of safety and well-being. Often depicted draped and seated, she
extends a patera (shallow dish used in religious ceremonies) to feed a snake
that rises up from an altar. The choice of Salus as the reverse design may be
to safeguard the health and well-being of the Empress. Faustina bore thirteen
children, many who did not survive to adulthood. Commodus, heir to Marcus, was
born around the time this coin was minted in A.D. 161.
While we are no longer accepting consignments for our August 2017 ANA
Auction, we are still accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins
and currency for our August 2017 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. In addition to
this, we are currently taking consignments of world and ancient coins as well
as world paper money for our October 2017 Collectors Choice Online Auction and
the January 2018 New York International Auction. Time is running short, so if
you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole
collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our consignment
directors.
