Diva Faustina Senior, died 140/1. Medallion (Bronze, 43 mm, 58.85 g, 12 h). DIVA AVGVSTA FAVSTINA Diademed, veiled and draped bust of Diva Faustina Senior to right. Rev. Ceres, veiled and draped, seated left, holding two grain ears in her right hand and long torch with her left; to left, basket with poppy, grain and fruits; to right, cista mystica from which snake coils. Boston MFA -. Cohen -. Dressel -. Fagerlie, ANS -. Gnecchi II -. Tocci -. Toynbee -. Apparently unpublished. A bold and impressive new medallion. Minor traces of corrosion and with very light smoothing on the reverse, otherwise, about very fine.


The imperial medallions minted by Antoninus Pius in honor of his late wife, Faustina the Elder, are all exceedingly rare. This newly discovered specimen documents a new reverse type: the seated Ceres, familiar from the regular coinage issued in the name of the deified Faustina.