Moreover, I have examined several dozen specimens of the aureus of this type at various online databases such as acsearchinfo, Coin Archives, and OCRE, and have not identified an aureus which is a die-match to either the obverse or reverse of the Hermitage specimen.
However, its obverse die does not match any of the 133 DIVA FAVSTINA aureus obverse dies cataloged by Beckmann, nor does its reverse die match any of the thirty-five reverse dies he catalogs of this design. The Hermitage specimen appears to be of official style in its artistry. This reverse type in silver is not listed in RIC, Sear, or Temeryazev and Makarenko, but is cited as a footnote by Mattingly (BMCRE 447n.) and by Seaby (RSC 123a), each citing Strack. Silver denarius in the collection of The State Hermitage Museum featuring the reverse type AVGVSTA/Fortuna standing left, holding patera and long rudder set on globe (Strack 473). However, a cast of the specimen was available to Strack, who illustrates it in his catalog, citing the Hermitage collection. The Hermitage's vast collection of coins, however, is not available for viewing online, unfortunately. The numismatic community had long been aware of a single specimen of this reverse type struck in silver, which resides in the collection at the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The sheer number of reverse dies and portrait styles indicates a rather lengthy period of mintage. The reverse type is paired with many obverse dies, including veiled and right-facing and bare-headed and left-facing bust types in addition to the usual bare-headed and draped bust right portrait style. It is a common aureus reverse type, and Beckmann identified thirty-five reverse dies used in its manufacture. This reverse type was officially minted only in the aureus denomination, in the "later 150s," toward the end of the reign of Antoninus Pius. The issue under discussion is the AVGVSTA/Fortuna standing left, holding patera and long rudder set on globe reverse type (RIC 372). Again, I'm interrupting the recreation of Sulzer's collection of coins of Faustina the Younger – this time to discuss a fascinating issue of Faustina the Elder. Friday felicitations, fellow Faustina fanatics! I hope you have a great weekend ahead of you.
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