Faustina Sr. (AD 138–140/1) Roman Empire AR Denarius Posthumous NGC Ch VF

Faustina the Elder — A Roman Empress Remembered

This posthumous silver denarius honors Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius. Rather than recording the reign of a new ruler, it preserves an emperor’s public commemoration of his deceased wife and the place of divine honors in Roman imperial life.

Coin Details

• Person commemorated: Faustina the Elder (Faustina I), wife of Antoninus Pius
• Lifetime status and issue period: Augusta AD 138–140/1; this is a posthumous issue struck after her death, not a coin dated to her lifetime
• Empire/region: Roman Empire
• Denomination: Denarius, posthumous issue
• Composition: AR — silver
• NGC grade: Ch VF — Choice Very Fine
• Sheldon-scale equivalent: 30–35
• Quantity supplied: One encapsulated coin

The Sheldon-scale number is an equivalent associated with the stated ancient-coin grade; it is not a separate numerical grade assigned to the coin.

Faustina the Elder and Her Place in Roman History

Faustina became Augusta when Antoninus Pius succeeded Hadrian in AD 138. Their daughter, Faustina the Younger, later married Marcus Aurelius, connecting the imperial household with the next generation of rulers. Faustina the Elder died in AD 140 or 141, early in her husband’s long reign.

She was granted divine honors, and Antoninus commemorated her through monuments and an extensive coinage. Her temple in the Roman Forum became one of the most enduring expressions of that remembrance. Coins carrying her image continued to circulate after her death, making the memory of the empress part of everyday public life rather than an event confined to the court.

What the Coin Tells Us

The designation “posthumous” means that this coin was issued after the person portrayed had died. On Faustina’s memorial coinage, the title Diva refers to her deified status. That distinction is essential when reading the dates: her years as Augusta and the date of a later commemorative coin are not the same thing.

The broader series uses religious figures, symbols of eternity and other commemorative themes. Different issues can have very different reverses, so this offering does not guarantee a temple, peacock or other particular scene. It supplies a posthumous denarius of Faustina the Elder in the stated grade, with the individual design and surface details represented by stock photography.

What You Will Receive

You will receive one posthumous silver denarius honoring Faustina the Elder in an NGC Ancients holder, graded Ch VF (Choice Very Fine). A specific mint, issue year, reverse design, inscription, weight or diameter is not promised unless expressly stated above.

Stock-photo notice: The photographs are representative of the product offering. The coin supplied may differ from the pictured example in portrait style, reverse design, inscriptions, centering, toning, surface appearance and other individual characteristics while remaining within the stated coin type and any expressly stated grade.