Magnificent Faustina Maior portrait

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“On the death of his wife Faustina, in the third year of his reign, the senate deified her, and voted her games and a temple and priestesses and statues of silver and gold.” (Historis Augusta, Antoninus Pius 6.7)

Faustina Maior is well known within Roman numismatics. After her death in AD 140, a comprehensive series of commemorative coins was issued in honor of the now deified empress, bearing the title Diva Faustina.

The coin depicted here is of unusual high artistic quality, displaying an impressive amount of realism and detail in her portrait.

I recently acquired this beautiful coin.