Faustina II, 161-175, Denarius

Faustina II, denarius, AR, Augusta under Marcus Aurelius (AD 161–175), Rome mint, struck AD 161–175, 3.14 g, 18 mm. Obverse with draped bust of Faustina II right, legend FAVSTINA AVGVSTA. Reverse depicting Ceres standing, holding attributes associated with grain fertility, legend CERES. Well-centered strike with clear legends; minor die wear consistent with the issue. RIC III (Marcus Aurelius) 669.

Faustina II, wife of Marcus Aurelius, was prominently featured on the imperial coinage as part of the Antonine dynasty’s public representation; reverses invoking Ceres emphasized fertility, agricultural prosperity, and the stability of Roman supply, themes closely aligned with the empress’s role in dynastic continuity and with state concerns for the annona during the mid-second century AD.