Owner Comments:
Galerius Antoninus was one of four children born of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius and Empress Faustina Senior. He likely died quite young, prior to Antoninus’ ascension. Even this scant information would be uncertain, were it not for ancient coins, including this one, struck in the boy’s name. Only two denominations were produced, and surviving specimens, in any state of preservation, are extremely rare. All surviving examples share the same numismatic design with the boy’s right facing portrait on one side and his mother’s on the other. Although such coins may have been produced in Rome (based on artistic merit), their Greek inscriptions demonstrate they were intended for circulation in the provinces, perhaps Cyprus. Based on the inscriptions, both mother and son were deceased at the time, placing the date of this coin’s production sometime around 140 AD or afterwards.
Coin Details: CYRPUS?, Diva Faustina Sr. and Galerius Antoninus, Died 140 and before 138 AD, Æ 27mm (10.45g), NGC Grade: F, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 1/5, Obverse: Draped bust of Diva Faustina right, ΘΕΑ ΦAV CTEINA, Reverse: Bare headed and draped bust of Galerius Antoninus right, M ΓΑΛEPIOC ANTWNINOC AVTOKPATOPOC ANTWNINOV VIOC, References: SNG Copenhagen -; Lindgren III 940; RPC online 3006; Cohen 2 (Galerius and Faustina) var. (veiled and draped bust of Faustina).