The Aureus of Nero was minted in 54, soo

This theme is seen again in a Sestertius of Antoninus Pius. On the obverse is a bust of Faustina the Younger and the inscription FAVSTINA AVGVSTA, which gives her title. On the reverse is a depiction of Fecunditas and four children with the inscription FECVND AVGVSTAE S C. Faustina the Younger was the only daughter of Antoninus Pius and Faustina the Elder. In 145, at the age of fifteen, she married the designated heir Marcus Aurelius and by 160, when this coin was minted, they had had many children, although some died in infancy. This fertility was a cause for celebration in the empire because both the union of Trajan and Plotina and that of Hadrian and Sabina had failed to produce children.8 Although the surviving children at that point were all female, it was still a much more desirable situation than having no children at all. While daughters could not becomes heirs, they could marry a man that the emperor favored, thereby cementing his claim to be emperor, and avoiding unpleasant controversies or damaging civil wars. In addition, with so many children, it was likely that future emperors could be picked from their nephews or grandsons. The personification of fecundity, Fecunditas, is therefore shown with four of the emperor’s granddaughters: Fadilla, Cornificia, Faustina, and Lucilla.9 A pictorial program like this, with the portrait of Faustina on the obverse obviously calling special attention to her role in securing the continuation of the dynasty, was meant to reassure the Roman people that there would be a smooth transition of power and to show them the “good omen”10 of a large family. There was a smooth transition, but unfortunately no good omen as the power went to Commodus, who soon became a truly despised ruler.

This is proven in several ways, one of which being the inscription on the obverse. In 105, Marciana became the first woman who was not the wife, mother, or daughter of an emperor to receive the title of Augusta, which obviously shows the high respect that Trajan accorded her.4 This respect is further shown by the fact that he commissioned not one, but three different coins commemorating her death and consecration.5

There are a few reasons that Trajan might have had for honoring his sister, not the least of which is that he genuinely liked his relatives. She evidently lived in peaceful harmony in the imperial palace with her daughter, Matidia, and Plotina, Trajan’s wife.6 This kind of concord was not often seen in the imperial circle, and no doubt Trajan was appreciative of it. Another reason, which is more political, is that Marciana had granddaughters. Trajan and Plotina had no ch

Some topics in this essay:
Claudius Nero, Antoninus Pius’, Roman Empire, Capitoline Circus, Nero’s Trajan, Faustina Lucilla9, Hadrian Sabina, Septimius Severus, EX Agrippina’s, Aureus Nero, aureus nero, continuation dynasty, roman empire, septimius severus, antoninus pius, reassure roman people, reverse depiction, smooth transition, promise future, sestertius antoninus, roman people, sestertius antoninus pius, promise future children, peaceful continuation dynasty,