Roman Women: Empresses & Augustae

Obverse: Bust of Fulvia, right, with the likeness of goddess Victory, big eyes, a slim nose, hair up in a knot, III VIR R P C

History note: One of the most notorious women of the ancient world! Fulvia (died 40 BC) lived in the dying days of the Roman Republic and ventured boldly and scandalously into the political battlefield. As the second wife of Mark Antony, he showed her no thanks for her help in the Perusine War, so Fulvia was criticised for overstepping her position and meddling in her husband's business. Fulvia is the first Roman, non-mythological woman to appear on a Roman coin.

Reverse: Lion, walking right, ANTONI above, IMP below, A X(LI) across 

Size: 13.5mm, 1.76g

Grade: AVF, scratches to both sides, toned

Ref: Giard 3; RSC Fulvia 3; RRC 489/6

£220 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1784

Obverse: Bust of Crispina, draped, hair waved and rolled at crown and knotted on back of head, right, CRISPINA AVGVSTA

History note: Bruttia Crispina's (AD 164-191) marriage to Commodus elevated her to position of Empress. The marriage, however, was destined to be a brief and unhappy one with her being implicated in a plot against his life.

Reverse: Concordia, draped, seated left, holding patera in extended right hand and cornucopiae in left hand, CONCORDIA S C

Size: 27mm, 11.92g

Grade: VF/AVF, nice olive green patina

Ref: RIC III Commodus 675; Cohen 7; BMCRE 427 (Commodus)

£80 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1668

Obverse: Draped bust of Plautilla, hair coiled in ridges, fastened in bun at back, right, PLAVTILLAE AVGVSTAE

History note: Publia Fulvia Plautilla (died 211) was the wife of the Roman emperor Caracalla, her paternal second cousin. After her father was condemned for treason, she was exiled and eventually killed, possibly on Caracalla's orders.

Reverse: Concordia, draped, seated left, holding patera in extended right hand and double cornucopiae in left hand, CONCORDIAE

Size: 21mm, 3.73g

Grade: VF

Ref: RIC IV Caracalla 360; Sear 7067

£110 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1668

Obverse: Carpentum, ornamented with Victories and other figures, drawn right by two mules, S P Q R IVLIAE AVGVST

History note: Livia Drusilla (59 BC - AD 29) was known as Empress Julia Augusta. She served as an influential confidant to Emperor Augustus and continued her political influence for her son, Tiberius when he became Emperor.

Reverse: Legend surrounding large S C, TI CAESAR DIVI AVG F AVGVST PM TR POT XXIIII

Size: 32mm, 17.28g

Grade: AVF

Ref: RIC I Tiberius 51, Sear 1738

Prov: Ex Lockdales

£350 (P&P FREE to all locations) #272

Obverse: Bust of Sabina, diademed, wearing stephane with hair in queue, draped, right, SABINA AVGVSTA

History note: Vibia Sabina (AD 83 - 136/137) was an Empress, wife and second cousin once removed to Emperor Hadrian. Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome.

Reverse: Concordia standing left, resting on column, holding patera and double cornucopiae, CONCORDIA AVG

Size: 17mm, 3.12g

Grade: VF

Ref: RIC II.3 Hadrian 2571, BMCRE 929, RSC 3a

Prov: Ex Roma Numismatics, from a private UK collection

£120  SOLD

Obverse: Bust of Sabina, wearing double stephane with hair braided and piled, draped, right, SABINA AVGVSTA HADRIANI AVG P P

History note: Vibia Sabina (AD 83 - 136/137) was an Empress, wife and second cousin once removed to Emperor Hadrian. Sabina is the first woman whose image features on a regular and continuous series of coins minted at Rome.

Reverse: Vesta seated left, holding palladium and sceptre, // S C (in exergue)

Size: 25.5mm, 8.19g

Grade: Fair

Ref: RIC II.3 Hadrian 2496

£50 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Bust of Crispina, draped, hair in round coil at back, right, CRISPINA AVGVSTA

History note: Bruttia Crispina's (AD 164-191) marriage to Commodus elevated her to position of Empress. The marriage, however, was destined to be a brief and unhappy one with her being implicated in a plot against his life.

Reverse: Venus, draped, standing left, holding apple in right hand and drawing robe over her left shoulder with left hand, VENVS

Size: 18mm, 3.37g

Grade: VF

Ref: RIC III Commodus 286a, Sear 6002, RSC 35, BMCRE 44

£95 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, right, IVLIA DOMNA AVG

History note: Julia Domna (AD 160-217) was the first Roman Empress of the Severan dynasty. As the wife of Emperor Septimius Severus, she was famous for her political, social and philosophical influence.

Reverse: Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left, holding palladium in extended right hand and sceptre in left, VESTA

Size: 18.5mm, 3.38g

Grade: AVF

Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 538, Sear 6611, RSC 221, BMC 56

Prov: Ex Bruun Rasmussen

£65 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Bust of Julia Domna, hair waved and coiled at back, draped, right, IVLIA DOMNA AVG

Reverse: Vesta, veiled and draped, seated left, holding palladium in extended right hand and sceptre in left, VESTA

Size: 18mm, 3.10g

Grade: F

Ref: RIC IV Septimius Severus 538, Sear 6611, RSC 221, BMC 56

£55 (P&P FREE to all locations) #273

Obverse: Bust of Aquilia Severa, hair waved and fastened in plait, draped, right, IVLIA AQVILIA SEVERA AVG

History note: Aquilia Severa (d. after 222) was the second and fourth wife of Emperor Elagabalus. Severa was a Vestal Virgin, and, as such, her marriage was the cause of enormous controversy.

Reverse: Concordia, draped, standing left, sacrificing out of patera in right hand over lighted altar and holding double cornucopiae in left hand, in left field, star, CONCORDIA

Size: 19mm, 3.08g

Grade: VF/VF+

Ref: RIC IV Elagabalus 225, Sear 7679

£320 (P&P FREE to all locations) #1385

Obverse: Bust of Herennia Etruscilla, diademed, draped, on crescent, right, HER ETRVSCILLA AVG

History note: Herennia Cupressenia Etruscilla (d. 253) was the wife of Emperor Decius. She gained the title Augusta when Decius became emperor.

Reverse: Pudicitia, draped, veiled, seated left, drawing veil with right hand, holding sceptre in left hand, PVDICITIA AVG

Size: 22.5mm, 3.85g

Grade: VF/AVF

Ref: RIC IV Trajan Decius 65

£85 (P&P FREE to all locations) #679

O: Julia Maesa was the Grandmother to Elagabalas and Severus Alexander; as the power behind the thrones, she restored the Severan dynasty to power. 

R: With a Fecunditas reverse, the god of fertility.

Size: 2.67g, REF: AEF, RIC249

£65 (P&P FREE to UK other locations ask) #997f

Obverse: Faustina Junior facing right, FAVSTINA AVGVSTA

Reverse: Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm frond and cornucopia

Size: 17.5mm,3.2g

Grade: AEF/EF, slight scrape to face

£95 (P&P FREE to all locations)

Obverse: Draped bust of Faustina Senior, right, DIVA FAUSTINA

Reverse: Peacock standing right, head left, on sceptre with knobs on both ends

Size: 17mm, 2.9g

Grade: EF/AEF, Good silver and toned

Ref: RSC 32

£120 (P&P FREE to all locations)