Roman bronze sestertius of Diva Faustina, struck under Antoninus Pius
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
AD 146-161
This Roman Imperial sestertius is a bronze coin issued in honor of the deified Empress Faustina the Elder, wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius, struck between AD 146 and 161.
The obverse features a draped bust of Faustina facing right, accompanied by the inscription "DIVA FAUSTINA". The reverse depicts the goddess Juno, shown standing and raising one arm while holding a scepter. The coin is noted for its substantial weight of 26.45 grams, a diameter of 30 millimeters, and a thickness of 4 millimeters. It possesses a beautiful brown patina, indicative of its long preservation. As part of the posthumous coinage issued by Antoninus Pius following his wife's deification, this sestertius served both as currency and as an instrument of imperial propaganda to honor the legacy of the empress.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Patina
- brown
- Weight
- 26.45 g
- Diameter
- 30 mm
- Material
- bronze
- Thickness
- 4 mm
Technical characteristics
- Era
- Roman Imperial
- Denomination
- sestertius
Design
- Obverse
- Draped bust right, inscription DIVA FAUSTINA
- Reverse
- Juno standing, raising arm and holding scepter
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Documentation checklist
- Denomination
- Research required
- Issue or mint date
- Recorded
- Material
- Recorded
- Weight
- Recorded
- Mint or printer
- Research required
- Mint or printer mark
- Research required
- Catalogue reference
- Research required
- Attached photograph (check rights)
- Recorded
Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.