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This rare ancient coin was struck in the name of Annia Faustina, who briefly held the title Augusta of the Roman Empire. Descended from Marcus Aurelius’ lineage on both sides of her family, the noble-born Annia socialized among the Empire’s elite, including Rome’s celebrated Matriarch, Julia Maesa. The latter grew ever more concerned over the religious controversy and sexual perversions attributed to her grandson, Augustus Elagabalus. For example, in late 220 AD, Elagabalus declared his first wife, Julia Cornelia Paula, not bodily suited to continue as his spouse, and proceeded into a scandalous marriage with the vestal virgin, Julia Aquilia Severa. Adding to this bizarre development was the simultaneous marriage between the Emperor’s favorite deity, the Syrian sun god Heliogabal, and Vesta, Rome’s virgin goddess of the hearth, home, and family. Such antics led to increased concerns over the imperial leadership, and, amid pressures from Julia Maesa, the Emperor soon divorced his second wife, and, concomitantly, Heliogabal divorced Vesta. Julia Maesa also pressured her grandson to marry once again, this time to Annia, whose previous husband had recently been executed for treason. Annia, who hailed from the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, was a logical choice to provide some stability within Elagabalus' chaotic court - at least that was Julia Maesa's intention.
The new imperial couple at least got off to a good start. Elagabalus married Annia in mid 221 AD, once again hosting a grandiose double wedding; in parallel, Heliogabal married the Carthaginian moon goddess Venus Caelestis. For the moment, it appeared that Julia Maesa’s machinations might have the desired, positive effect. Rome’s citizens enjoyed the revelry and welcomed Augusta Annia, who distanced herself from her predecessors by not taking on the praenomen Julia. Even the celestial pairing of the Syrian sun god and the Carthaginian moon goddess seemed appropriate, providing hope for imperial fertility, and improved stability for the Empire (Annia had two children from her previous marriage).
To spread the news further, the Empire’s mints produced coinage advertising the new Augusta. The current example, a provincial bronze, dates from 221 AD and the town of Hierapolis, located in an ancient land once known as Phyrgia. Rome held dominion over this realm even since its bequeathal by the last Attalid king of Pergamon, some three and a half centuries earlier. Heirapolis, whose name in Greek means “Holy City,” was renown for its hot springs, and served as a haven for the elderly and retired. The city also earned the honor of being a neocorate, or one of several cities across the Empire deemed worthy for temples dedicated to Rome’s imperia. This special status, shared with several other cities across the Empire, is proclaimed on the coin’s reverse: ΙΕΡΑΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ. The obverse depicts the diademed and draped bust of Annia, her visage (in particular, her coiffure) reminiscent of women belonging to Julia Maesa’s Emesan clan. The inscription, declares Annia as CEB (standing for Sebaste, the Greek equivalent of Augusta).
Another fascinating aspect of this coin revolves around the reverse central inscription A-KTI-A. The latter refers to the ancient Roman religious-sporting spectacle, the Actian Games, echoing an earlier Hellenistic celebration honoring Apollo. Re-instated by Augustus to commemorate his 31 BC defeat of Mark Antony at Actium, the quadrennial olympic events included diverse competitions from wrestling to musical performances. Assuming Augustus held the first such gala around 27 BC, the year 221 AD not only marked Annia's tenure as Augusta, but also the 64th anniversary of the Actian Games.
Adding to the coin's allure is the fact that Annia’s coins are very rare, even though a number of different designs were struck at a variety of mints, particularly across Asia Minor and the Levant. This suggests that a large production was planned, presumably in an attempt to advertise the new Empress and improve the imperial approval rating. However, after only a few months, the capricious Elagabalus divorced Annia in favor of returning to his previous wife, Julia Aquilia Severa (although Heliogabal remained married to Venus Caelestis). Rejected, and quite probably relieved, Annia returned with her children to her large Pisidian family estate, where she lived the remainder of her years distanced from the imperial stage.
Coin Details: PHRYGIA, Hierapolis, Annia Faustina, Augusta, AD 221, Æ (24mm, 4.75 g, 6h), NGC Grade: VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Obverse: Draped bust right, wearing stephane, ANNIA FAVCTEINA CEB, Reverse: Three lines within wreath, ΙΕΡΑΠΟΛΕΙΤΩΝ ΝΕΩΚΟΡΩΝ around A-KTI-A, References: BMC 148; SNG München 245.