Diva Faustina Senior, died 140/1. Sestertius (Orichalcum, 32 mm, 22.00 g, 6 h), Rome. DIVA FAVSTINA Draped bust of Diva Faustina to right. Rev. CONSECRATIO / S - C Vesta, veiled, standing front, head to left, holding patera over lighted and garlanded altar in her right hand and long torch in her left. BMC 1529. Cohen 162. RIC 1130. Rare and with an illustrious pedigree. Very minor deposits, otherwise, very fine.


Apostolo Zeno (1668-1750) was a Venetian librettist and humanist who worked as poet laureate in Vienna in 1715-1729, where he also curated the imperial coin collection of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI (1685-1740). His collection was preserved for more than two-hundred years, until eventually being sold by Dorotheum in 1955, thus forming one of the oldest and most celebrated pedigrees in ancient numismatics.