|
HUGE ROMAN BRONZE
SESTERTIUS OF DIVA FAUSTINA COIN PENDANT
IN 14K YELLOW GOLD
141 A.D.
With its clear
inscription to the lower left reading "DIVA", this mesmerizing
and massive yellow genuine ancient Roman bronze coin of exquisite detail
has been set in a large 14K yellow gold teardrop pendant setting - a
perfect embellishment for any modern-day DIVA! The gold pendant setting
features a very large, open bail allowing it to be used as a show-stopping
slide on an Omega chain as well as any large round chain. The
portrait of Faustina Senior shows her hair arranged in an elegant array of
braids and decorated with interwoven strands of pearls. This feature
indicates that this coin was minted at her death by her husband and then
ruler, Antoninus Pius who loved and adored her like no other.
Greatly mourning the loss of her, he issued these coins commemorating her
death. Only found on these unique commemorative coins is the
portrait of her shown bearing the pearl strand hair decoration. It
is coins like these that have provided archaeologists and historians a
glimpse of what the hair styles and dress were like in ancient Roman
times! The color of the bronze is also quite unique, much more
yellow like gold, instead of the usual reddish hue from the copper in the
bronze. With a natural darkened 2000 year patina and such stately
artwork, this artifact of classic Rome makes for quite a remarkable
centerpiece to be worn at the envy of all its admirers. Seldom do I
use a coin of such dimension and certainly, the tone of the bronze is
rarely this bright and of this hue. Faustina was the wife of
the great Roman emperor Antoninus Pius. During his rule of twenty
three peaceful years, he organized great festivities to celebrate Rome's 900th
anniversary! Faustina Senior was loved very much by her
husband. They lived happily together during one of the most peaceful
and prosperous periods of Roman history. At her untimely death in
141 A.D., Antoninus Pius was shattered and greatly mourned his
beloved. He declared his wife a goddess and had a temple built and
consecrated in her name. Coins bearing the inscription "DIVA
FAUSTINA" were issued to commemorate her and unique to these issues,
she was shown with an elegant and elaborate hair style decorated with
interwoven strands of pearls. Like
her husband, Faustina was highly respected by all of Rome. She was
very active in charitable works and the betterment of the lives of the
poor. Upon her death, Antoninus Pius established a charity
organization and fund for impoverished girls in her name, calling it the
"Girls of Faustina". In
contrast to the typical bizarre and severely dysfunctional families of
past emperors, the rule and family of Antoninus Pius was one of ethics and
family values. Both Antoninus Pius and his adopted son and
succeeding ruler of Rome, Marcus Aurelius, along with their respective
wives, Faustina Senior and Faustina Junior, can be viewed upon as some of
the most stable and respected members of the Empire's ruling family in all
of its history.
The sestertius
was a big bronze coin of the later Roman republic and early Roman empire.
These big coins gave the engraver a lot of surface area. Obverse
portraits were detailed and lifelike. The reverse images could
transmit complex themes and ideas. The
sestertius was the primary
denomination of accounting in Roman business. Payment made in silver
denarii or even in gold would always
be counted in sestertii. The
value conversion was one sestertius
equaled a fourth of a silver denarius.
There were 100 sestertii to an
imperial aureus, the primary Roman
gold coin of ancient times.
Overall dimensions are IMPRESSIVELY LARGE
at 60 mm x 42 mm! CPR027
$1995
COMES WITH A
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY / HISTORY SHEET
|
