FAUSTINA JUNIOR, daughter of Antoninus Pius, wife of Marcus Aurelius. Augusta, 147-175 AD. Æ Sestertius (31mm, 24.91 g, 5h). Struck 161-164 AD. FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, diademed and draped bust right / VENVS VICTRIX, S C across fields, Venus standing left, holding Victory in right hand, left hand set on shield resting on helmet; shield decorated with Victory walking left, holding wreath and palm. RIC III 1688 var. (Aurelius, shield decoration); cf. MIR 18, 40-6(a); BMCRE 960 var. (Aurelius, same); Cohen 283. VF, brown patina with some green overtones, well-centered, attractive strike. An unpublished variety with Victory on shield.
From the Tony Hardy Collection.
