Faustina the Elder, 138-140, Denarius

Faustina the Elder, Denarius, Silver (AR), minting authority Antoninus Pius, Rome, 138-140 AD. Weight: 3.05g, Diameter: 18mm. Obverse bears the inscription DIVA FAVSTINA, featuring a draped bust of Faustina the Elder facing right. The reverse depicts AVGVSTA, showcasing a seated figure of Faustina holding a scepter. The strike is well-centered with typical high relief on the obverse and good details on the reverse. References include RIC III Antoninus Pius 356a (denarius).

Faustina the Elder, wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius, was deified after her death, marking her as one of the revered figures in Roman society. This coin, struck posthumously, reflects her standing and the Roman practice of deification of esteemed individuals. Her portrait and titles on the coinage symbolize the intersection of imperial cult and familial loyalty within the political landscape of the Roman Empire during the mid-2nd century AD.