FAUSTINA I, ANTONINUS PIUS, RIC 1158, Date 141 AD, AE Bronze As Rome, Aeternitas

★ Extremely rare AE As type with Aeternitas holding globe and raising above head a starry mantle! I find on acsearch only 7 pieces (4 Sestertius, 2 As and 1 Dupondius) with this reverse Aeternitas Type presentation! Good very fine condition of this rare AE As. Impressive beautiful Faustina I portrait, nice details at booth sides, well centered and a fantastic dark brown patina colour toning ★
Diva Faustina I the Elder under Antoninus Pius
Reign: Antoninus Pius
Mint: Rome
Date: 141 AD
Nominal: As
Material: AE Bronze
Diameter: 27mm
Weight: 11.16g
Reference: BMC 1548
Reference: Cohen 31
Reference: RIC III Antoninus Pius 1158
OCRE Online: numismatics.or...
Obverse: Bust of Faustina I, draped, right, hair elaborately waved and coiled in bands across head and drawn up at back and piled in a round coil on top
Inscription: DIVA FAVSTINA
Translation: Diva Faustina
Translation: The divine Faustina [the Elder]
Reverse: Aeternitas standing left, holding globe and raising above head a starry mantle
Inscription: AETERNITAS S C
Translation: Aeternitas, Senatus Consultum
Translation: Eternity. Decree of the senate
Comment: Annia Galeria Faustina (b. 105 AD; d. before 24 October 140 AD), called Faustina the Elder to distinguish her daughter of the same name, was the wife of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. Faustina was the daughter of the consul of 126 AD, Marcus Annius Verus. Her mother Rupilia Faustina was the daughter of Emperor Trajan's niece Matidia and half-sister of Hadrian's wife Vibia Sabina. As Rome's richest heiress, Faustina brought a large fortune to Antoninus at the time of her marriage around AD 110, but Antoninus hardly touched it. With her husband she had four children, two sons Marcus Galerius Aurelius Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius Fulvius Antoninus as well as the two daughters Aurelia Fadilla and Faustina the only child to survive her parents. The daughter Faustina was given the name Younger to distinguish her from her mother of the same name. When Antoninus Pius ascended the throne in 138 AD, she was given the title Augusta. Her personality remains largely obscure, since although some rumours of licentiousness circulated about her, they are of little significance. Faustina died before 24 October 140 AD. She was consecrated on this day and honoured with a funus censorium (a state funeral) before 13 November. She was buried in Hadrian's Mausoleum. After her death, the Senate allowed the minting of numerous coins with her image and also endowed her with divine attributes. Antoninus had a Faustina temple built above the Forum Romanum, which was also dedicated to him after his death. In her memory, Antoninus also established a foundation for the alimentation of young girls, the puellae Faustinianae. After Antoninus' death, Marcus Aurelius erected a triumphal column in his and Faustina's honour, of which only the base has survived.