e-mail : twood@northstate.net

XP312 - TRAJAN (AD 98-117), AR Denarius, aVF/aVF, $60

Obverse: IMP TRAIANO AVG GER DAC PM TR P COS V DES VI, right facing laureate head of Trajan.

Reverse: S P Q R OPTIMO PRICIPI, Vesta seated left, cradling scepter in left arm, holding palladium upright in right, VESTA in exergue.

Reference: Sear #993v, Van Meter #38, Cohen #645v.

Comments: Decent portrait of Trajan with very nice toning. This coin has good metal, even, light wear and full legends. A great budget priced example of a nice Trajan denarius.

XP443 - SABINA (AD 117-138), AR Denarius - Rome, VF+/VF+, $165

Obverse: SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG PP, right facing, draped, diademed head of Sabina.

Reverse: CONCORDIA AVG, Concordia seated left, holding patera extended in right hand, holding sceptre upright in left.

Reference: Sear #1186, RIC II - Rome #399a, Van Meter #1v.

Comments: Sabina was the Grand-neice of Trajan and married Hadrian in AD 100. She traveled with Hadrian extensively and died in AD 137. Excellent detail in the face and hair with a reverse that is also sharply detailed. Good metal and nice toning make up for the slightly irregular flan on this nice piece.

XP442 - SABINA (AD 117-138), AR Denarius - Rome, VF/VF+, $165

Obverse: SABINA AVGVSTA, right facing, draped, diademed head of Sabina.

Reverse: IVNONI REGINAE, Juno standing left, holding patera extended to left with right hand and upright sceptre in left.

Reference: Sear #1187, RIC II - Rome #395a, Van Meter #3

Comments: A less common type for this hard to find empress. Outstanding reverse detail makes this well struck coin very desireable.

XP260 - ANTONINUS PIUS (AD 138-161), AR Denarius - Rome, VF/F+, $75

Obverse: ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP, right facing, laureate, bearded bust of Antoninus Pius.

Reverse: TR POT (C)OS IIII, LIB IIII in exergue. Liberalitas draped, standing left, holding account board upright in right hand, cornucopiae in left hand.

Reference: Sear #1239, RIC III - Rome #155, Foss RHC #48a

Comments: Great portrait with nice relief. This coin was struck in AD 145, the same year as his fourth and last consulship and saw the marriage of his daughter (Faustina the Younger) to Marcus Aurelius. Sear lists at 75 Pounds for full VF.

XP261 - FAUSTINA the Elder (died AD 141), AR Denarius - Rome, F+/F+, $55

Obverse: DIVA FAVSTINA, right facing, draped bust of Faustina the Elder with hair waved,and coiled on top of head.

Reverse: AVG-VSTA, Juno standing right, holding sceptre in left hand and lowering right hand..

Reference: Sear #1350v, RIC III - Rome #364, Cohen #128

Comments: After the death and diefication of Faustina in AD 141, coinage struck in commemoration was issued through the end of the reign of Antoninus Pius. The detail in the braiding of the hair on Faustina's head is remarkable. A very nice budget portrait coin. Sear lists similar varieties at a minimum of 65 Pounds.

XP315 - FAUSTINA the Elder (died AD 141), AR Denarius - Rome, aVF/F+, $45

Obverse: DIVA AVG FAVSTINA, right facing, draped bust of Faustina the Elder with hair waved,and coiled on top of head.

Reverse: PIETA-S AVG, Pietas standing left, sprinkling incense over altar to left.

Reference: Sear #1356, RIC III - Rome #394a, Cohen #234, Van Meter #13

Comments: The detail in the braiding of the hair on Faustina's head is especially interesting. Some slight disturbance of the metal around the altar on reverse but overall, another very nice budget portrait coin. Sear lists this type at 65 Pounds.

XP262 - ANTONINUS PIUS (AD 138-161), AR Denarius, VF+/VF, $95

Obverse: DIVVS ANTONINVS, right facing, bearded, bare head of Antoninus Pius.

Reverse: CONSECRATIO, Funeral pyre of four tiers, decorated with hangings and garlands, surmounted by quadriga.

Reference: Sear #1302, RIC III #436, Foss RHC #14(M. Aurelius)

Comments: A great, detailed portrait bust for this consecration issue. Struck by Marcus Aurelius in AD 161 after the funeral and diefication of Antoninus Pius.

XP297 - FAUSTINA the Younger (died AD 175), AE As (24mm), F/VG+, $60

Obverse: DIVA FAVSTINA PIA, right facing, draped bust of Faustina the Younger with hair up and put into bun in the back of head.

Reverse: S C, under crescent and seven stars as central feature of coin reverse.

Reference: Sear #1531, RIC III #1714 (issued under Marcus Aurelius), Cohen #213

Comments: Annia Galeria Faustina, daughter of Antoninus Pius and Faustina the elder married Marcus Aurelius in AD 145. This remarkable woman gave birth to 13, yes, thirteen children. No wonder she looks a bit tired on this well worn coin. The crescent and stars reverse type has been at the center of many Numism-L postings in the last year as to it's significance. I would be pleased to hear more of your opinions and research into this topic. This scarce type lists in Sear for 75 Pounds.