Sale: Nomos 10, Lot: 102. Estimate CHF500.  Closing Date: Sunday, 17 May 2015.  Sold For CHF950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Diva Faustina Senior, died 140/1. As (Copper, 25mm, 10.31 g 12), Rome, 147. DIVA FAVSTINA Draped bust of Faustina to right, her hair piled on top of her head and bound with pearls. Rev. AVGVSTA / S - C Ceres, veiled, standing facing with her head turned to left, and holding a torch in each hand. BMC 1576. Cohen 91. RIC 1120. A beautiful, sharply struck example of good style, with a lovely olive-green patina. Extremely fine.

From a specialized European collection.

Coins like this show us that during the Antonine period not only can the dies for sestertii be real masterworks of engraving, but those for medium bronzes can be so as well. As coins they are not especially rare, but they are in this quality.