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Click picture to see enlarged image. Ancient roman Imperial COin~ Empress Faust with her Infant Sons FAUSTA, Wife of Constantine I, "The Great"Struck 325-326 AD, Trier Mint Æ3 Follis (silvered bronze) 3.31 gm. 19mm. Obverse: FLAV MAX – FAVSTA AVG Draped bust r., wearing pearl necklace. Reverse: SPES REIP – VBLICAE Fausta, draped and veiled, standing facing, head l., holding two infants in her arms--the two children being Constantine II and Constantius II--the sons of Constantine and Fausta; in exergue, PTR crescent.VF+, areas of flat strike else would be XF, a bit of silver wash remaing. olive patina.Ref. RIC VII, S. 551, 80..As the younger daughter of the emperor Maximian, Fausta was born into a political existence. While still a child – perhaps even an infant – she was betrothed to Constantine, the son of her fathers Caesar, Constantius. It was a classic political union made long before Fausta was eligible for marriage. When she eventually married Constantine in 307, it was, again, a matter of political opportunism: Constantine had taken control of the Western provinces after his fathers death, and Faustas father, Maximian, now co-ruler with his son in Italy, was in need of an ally. By this time Fausta would have reached an appropriate age for marriage – probably between 15 and 18 years old – yet she was still much younger than her husband, who was perhaps 35 years old and who already had a grown child from a previous union. During the first decade of their marriage they produced no children, but thereafter Fausta gave birth to five children who grew to maturity. Three were boys, all of whom succeeded Constantine upon his death in 337. But in the early stages of their lives a more prominent character, Constantines first son Crispus, must have been considered most likely to succeed, for he was substantially older than Faustas sons and he was popular with the army. With this in mind, there is good reason to believe that Fausta was opposed to the promotion of her stepson Crispus, fearing her own sons would suffer as a result. The outcome of this irreconcilable state of affairs was a family tragedy in 326, less than two years after Constantine and Crispus had combined efforts to eliminate their last rival, Licinius. In the summer or fall of 326 two executions occurred in quick succession: Crispus was killed after a swift trial on charges that remain a mystery, and Fausta was suffocated in a steam bath for reasons that are not known, but are rightly associated with the execution of Crispus. Constantine suppressed the facts in these cases, and there was no official account of their deaths. Indeed, by the end of the 4th century John Chrysostom (Ep. ad Philipp., 4, 15, 5) apparently believed Fausta had died in the amphitheater, where she was devoured by wild beasts. But this coin was struck at a happier time, soon after the title of Augusta was awarded to Fausta and her mother-in-law Helena, seemingly on November 8, 324. Prior to this event, both women possessed the lesser title Nobilissima Femina, and, except for a special issue of silver half-argentei for Fausta at her wedding in 307, their coinage had been limited to a single issue of billon coins struck c. 318 to 319 at Thessalonica. The new coinage for Fausta and Helena was produced on a grand scale at mints across the empire, and this time it included gold solidi and medallions. Constantine was careful to distinguish the presumed roles of his wife and mother by identifying Helena with securitas publica (the "well-being of the State") and Fausta with salus publica and spes publica (the "health of the State" and the "hope of the State"). Both of Faustas types reflect her role of motherhood, for the health and the hope of the empire, simultaneously, were seen as essential elements of the well-being and success of the Constantinian dynasty. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OUR GUARANTEE: All illustrations are of the actual item offered. The authenticity of all pieces is fully guaranteed. Any item ever shown otherwise may be returned unaltered for full refund less shipping. If any item purchased is not to your satisfaction you may return it unaltered within 10 days of purchase for a full refund less shipping. We also guarantee absolute discretion and confidentiality in all transactions. U.S. shipping $2 for optional insurance. International Shipping $12 via Registered Air Insured, EXPRESS MAIL INTERNATIONAL $24. International payments accepted include International Money Order drawn on a U.S. Bank in U.S. Dollars or PayPal. . Good Luck!!! NO RESERVE Images are not actual size Please see description for actual measurements. Click here to view my other auctions. :
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