Sale: Nomos 1, Lot: 152. Estimate CHF500.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 5 May 2009.  Sold For CHF1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Faustina Junior. Augusta, 147-175. Denarius (Silver, 3.56 g 6), Rome, 147-150. FAVSTINAE AVG PII AVG FIL Draped bust of Faustina II to right, her hair bound with pearls Rev. VENVS Venus standing left, holding apple in her right hand and rudder entwined with dolphin in her left. BMC 1067. Cohen 266. RIC 517a. Attractively toned and with a very fine youthful portrait. Extremely fine.

From the collection of a Gentleman, ex Tradart, 12 December 1991, 323.

Faustina II was the daughter of Antoninus Pius and was married to the young Marcus Aurelius in 145, when she was 17. She was a great beauty as the portrait on this lovely denarius makes clear. Despite malicious rumors to the contrary, their marriage was a very happy one, lasting for thirty years (they had 13 children, most dying young).