Faustina Junior
Daughter of Antoninus Pius
Wife of Marcus Aurelius
Mother of Emperor Commodus
Annia Galeria Faustina Junior was the younger daughter of Antoninus Pius and Faustina Senior. She was married to Marcus Aurelius in April-May of 145 AD when she was only 15 years old. She bore 14 children with Marcus but only 6 lived to adulthood of which 4 actually survived their father.
Faustina was given the title of Augusta on the birth of her first child in 146 AD. She gained quite a reputation for adultery reportedly taking many lovers including gladiators. As such, one rumor proposed that their son Commodus, who loved playing a gladiator, was in fact a child of one of her many affairs.
Faustina did accompany her husband on his journey to the East in 175 AD and died at Halala, a village at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. Despite her reputation, Marcus appears to have loved her very much. He deified her and never married again.
Monetary System
Mints: Rome
Struck under Antoninus Pius
Obverse Legends:
FAVSTINA AVG. PII AVG. PIL.
FAVSTINAE AVG. PII AVG . FIL.
Struck under Marcus Aurelius
Obverse Legends:
FAVSTINA AVGVSTA
Portrait Style
Draped bust right
Diademed and Draped bust right
Commemorative Coins Struck After Her Death
Commemorative coinage of Faustina Junior was quite extensive. Numerous issues were made with a host of styles and reverse themes.
Obverse Legends:
DIVA FAVSTINA PIA
Portrait Style
Draped bust right
DENOMINATIONS
AU Aureus (7.25 grams)
AU Quninarius (3.70 grams)
AR Denarius (3.16 grams)
AE Sesterius (20-29.3 grams)
AE Dupondius (12.95 grams)
AE As
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