Marcus Aurelius Last Coin ------------------ Next Coin Lucius Verus

Roman Empire

Ruler: Faustina Junior wife of Marcus Aurelius
Reigned: born 127 AD - died 175 AD
Denomination: AR Denarius
Mint: Rome
Date of Issue: 161-175 AD
Obverse: Draped bust right "FAVSTINA AVGVSTA"
Reverse: Venus seated left, holding Victory and sceptre. "VENVS FELIX"
Reference: RSC 274, RCVM 5267, RIC 731
Weight: 3.9 gms
Diameter: 19.2 mm

FAUSTINA JUNIOR (II) (Annia Galeria Faustina)

  • Younger daughter of Antoninus Pius and Faustina Senior
  • After Antoninus Pius adopted Marcus Aurelius, Antoninus broke off Marcus's engagement to Ceionia Fabia and married him to his daughter, Annia Galeria Faustina, in 145 AD.
  • They had fourteen children. One was the future emperor Commodus, and one was Lucilla who later married Marcus's co-emperor Lucius Verus.
  • Faustina accompanied her husband during his many campaigns and was revered by the Roman soldiers.
  • Later in life she was renowned in later life for her infidelities and was implicated in the revolt of Avidus Cassius.
  • She accompanied her husband to the East in 175 AD and died at Halala, at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. In spite of her faults, Marcus was grieved by her death.

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