Moneta
Registered: August 2005
Location: Arizona USA
Posts: 2,362
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Annia Galeria Faustina was the younger daughter of A. Pius and married Marcus Aurelius in A.D. 145. She was given the title of Augusta the next year upon the birth of her first child. She was the mother of the future emperor Commodus. OB: FAVSINAE AVGVSTA; draped bust right; RX: MATRI MAGNAE S.C.; Cybele seated r. on throne flanked by two lions, holding drum. Struck under M. Aurelius. This is one of the first large coins to pay tribute to the cult of Magna Mater. S1509 (illustraded); C169; RIC1663; BMC 932. 28.7 gm, 33mm
Although Faustina the Younger was given various titles of honor such as Augusta and Mater Castorum (Mother of the Camp), she has also been recorded as a woman of shameful lust and murder. Cassius Dio records that Faustina, wife of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, ordered the deaths of several people by poisoning or execution and he claims that she had affairs with sailors, gladiators, and even soldiers (this give the title Mater Castorum a new meaning). She, also, was accused of inciting a revolution between her husband and Avidius Cassius.
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![ss780880.jpg](http://www.moneta-coins.com/photopost/data/500/thumbs/ss780880.jpg ""ADVENTVI AVG FELICISSIMO"")
