Commemorating the Marriage of Marcus and Faustina

206, Lot: 396. Estimate $100. Sold for $151. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Marcus Aurelius. As Caesar, AD 139-161. Æ As (26mm, 12.38 g, 11h). Rome mint. Struck AD 145. Bare head right / Marcus and Faustina Junior standing vis-à-vis, clasping right hands; between them in background, Concordia standing facing, head right. RIC III 1269. VF, green patina, minor roughness, a few light cleaning scratches.

From the J.S. Wagner Collection.

Faustina was originally engaged to Lucius Verus, Marcus’ future co-emperor. Her father, however, dissolved this engagement and in AD 145 Faustina was married to Marcus. The couple is shown in the position of dextrarum iunctio (joining right hands), a symbol of concord and the gesture adopted during marriage ceremonies.