Extremely Rare Faustina Junior Hemidrachm

Triton XXI, Lot: 177. Estimate $2000. Sold for $3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Faustina Junior. Augusta, AD 147-175. Æ Hemidrachm (29mm, 11.35 g, 12h). Dated RY 11 of Antoninus Pius (AD 147/148). ΦAVCTINA CЄB ЄVCЄB CЄB ΘVΓ, draped bust right, her hair tied up in a bun with a double strand of pearls / Eusebeia standing facing, head left, holding a wreath (or diadem) with her right hand and a scepter and a fold of her chiton with her left; L ЄNΔЄ KATOV (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 9117 (this coin); K&G –; Emmett 2017.11 (R5 = this coin cited); SNG Milano 1334; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 179 (this coin). EF, lovely dark brown patina with traces of green. Extremely rare, with only two specimens known. Hemidrachms of Faustina Junior are all extremely rare, with only one low grade specimen of any reverse type appearing at auction since 2000 (Noble 96, lot 5110).

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection, purchased from Dr. Piero Beretta, Milan, October 1973. Ex Dr. Piero Beretta Collection (Milan); Giovanni Dattari Collection, no. 9117.