Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 771. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 10 January 2005.  Sold For $2400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PHRYGIA, Cibyra. Faustina Jr., wife of Marcus Aurelius. Augusta, 147-175 AD. Æ 35mm (22.56 gm, 6h). Homonoia with Hierapolis. Claudius Philocles, magistrate. FAVCTEI NA CEBACTH, draped bust right, hair tied back in chignon / KIBVPATWN K IERAPOLITWN EPI KL FILOKLEOC OMONOIA, female figure, draped and veiled, holding two children, standing right before Zeus, enthroned left, who holds Pegasus in outstretched right hand and sceptre in left. Franke & Nollé 984 (same dies); BMC Phrygia pg. 149, 96; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -. EF, dark brown patina, flan flaws on reverse and edge. ($1000)

From the Garth R. Drewry Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 63 (21 May 2003), lot 1015.

The identity of the female figure on the reverse is uncertain in the references; Franke & Nollé describe her as Leto, mother of Apollo and Artemis, while BMC simple calls her a goddess. Neither describe the figure of Pegasus being held by Zeus, and this may be the clue to her identity and the relevance of the scene. Pegasus, born of Medusa and tamed by Bellerophon, later throws off his mortal master and ascends to heaven, where he becomes the horse of Zeus and a symbol of immortality, associated with the apotheosis of semi-divine mortals. The veiled female figure may be Faustina herself, presenting to Zeus her twin children, Aelius Aurelius and Aurelius Antoninus, who died shortly after their birth in 149 AD, with Pegasus as psychopompus, leading the childrens' souls to Heaven.