Period
Roman Imperial
Dynasty
Nerva-Antonine
Reign
Antoninus Pius
Person
Faustina II
(subject)
Mint
Uncertain mint of the Roman Empire (Roman Imperial)
Denomination
As
Material
bronze
Technique
cast
Dating
after AD 141–161
Note
Half a Roman copper-alloy obverse die matrix for the production of commemorative coins of Faustina the Elder (Faustina I) / DIVA FAVSTINA, dating to c. AD 141-61. Coins for Faustina I were struck in the reign of her husband, Antoninus Pius (AD 138-61).
The diameter of the die between the beading (19 mm) indicates that it was intended for the production of silver denarii. The legend would have been [DI]VA FAVST[INA]. The type was a [draped] bust with elaborate hairstyle, coiled on top of Faustina's head. For examples of regular coins of this type, see BMC IV, pl. 8, nos. 14-15. The irregular beading around the coin shows that this was a die for producing forgeries. Indeed, it would be highly unlikely that an official die would travel from the Mint in Rome to Britain. It has been suggested that the die might have broken during use, but further scientific analysis can only be carried out after Covid Lockdown.
The die appears to have been intentionally broken, cut in two with a blow from a chisel or similar implement. This would have obviously rendered the object useless.
Only one other definite Roman coin die, also for forgeries, is recorded on the PAS Database - LVPL-AA6A55 - which is now in the British Museum. Interestingly, this is a denarius die for Marcus Aurelius as Caesar (AD 139-61), so dates to the same period as the Diva Faustina die recorded here.
