PVELLAE FAVSTINIANAE

260, Lot: 476. Estimate $500. Sold for $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Diva Faustina Senior. Died AD 140/1. AR Denarius (17mm, 2.88 g, 7h). Rome mint. Struck under Antoninus Pius, AD 141-146. Draped bust right / PVELLAE FAVSTINIANAE, official seated left on a platform, leaning forward to hand rolled document to young girl being held aloft towards him by man standing right before the platform; second official standing left behind the first, pointing towards the document; directly below the officials, second citizen bending to lift up second girl in order to present her to the officials. RIC III 399a (Pius); RSC 262. VF, toned. Rare.

The reverse of this piece commemorates the Girls of Faustina, a young women’s charity established by Antoninus in memory of his late wife.