Roman Bronze As Coin - Rome 147-175 AD - Faustina II

• Date: 147-175 AD
• Size: 24 mm, 8.38 g
• Composition: Bronze
• Internal SKU: 87X407

HISTORICAL NOTE: Faustina II, also known as Faustina the Younger, was the daughter of Emperor Antoninus Pius and Empress Faustina the Elder, and she became Roman Empress as the wife of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Born in 130 CE, she married Marcus Aurelius around 145 CE and bore him numerous children, including the future emperor Commodus. Faustina II was highly influential and active in various charitable activities, earning the affection and respect of the Roman people. After her death in 175 CE, she was deified by Marcus Aurelius, who honored her memory with various dedications, including the construction of temples and the issuance of commemorative coins. These coins often depicted her as a symbol of fertility and virtue, reinforcing her esteemed position in Roman society and the imperial family. As: The As was a fundamental unit of the Roman coinage system, first produced in the late 4th century BCE. It was initially a large bronze coin, but its weight and composition changed over time. By the 1st century AD, the As was primarily made of copper and had significantly reduced in size. Despite these changes, the As remained in regular use for more than 500 years, serving as a standard unit of currency throughout the Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire.