History's Mysteries: The Death of Empress Fausta (1,690 Years Ago)
A Roman empress linked to three emperors through blood and marriage meets a shocking end in an overheated bath—Empress Fausta's coins capture the intrigue at Constantine the Great's court around AD 326.
Kinzer Coins offers these bronze pieces in themed albums, providing newcomers authentic entry to Constantinian dynasty numismatics with NGC certification and historical context.
Fausta's Imperial Connections
Born ~289 AD, Flavia Maxima Fausta connected Rome's top families: daughter of Maximian (tetrarchy emperor), sister of Maxentius (Rome's last pagan emperor), second wife of Constantine the Great (307 AD political marriage), mother of Constantine II, Constantius II, Constans.
Elevated to Augusta ~313-314 AD, her coins appeared during empire's Christian pivot. Obverse: draped portrait, "FLAV MAX FAVSTA AVG." Reverse: Venus, Salus, or Peace holding child—early 4th-century bronze AE3/AE4.
The Palace Scandal of 326 AD
Same year Crispus (Fausta's stepson) executed, Fausta dies mysteriously. Ancient sources (Zosimus, Eusebius) report Constantine ordered her suffocated in overheated bath after accusations—adultery with Crispus? plotting against sons? false charges?
Timeline: Crispus executed July 326 (Pola, Croatia). Fausta dead weeks later. Both suffer damnatio memoriae attempts, quickly reversed for her sons' legitimacy. Theories persist: revenge? miscarriage cover-up? Christian purification?.
Coins as Historical Clues
Fausta bronzes minted ~312-326 AD across Trier, Lyons, Rome, etc. Draped bust symbolizes imperial maternity during dynasty consolidation. NGC-graded Fine-XF examples show natural wear from circulation amid these events.
Album format (FAUSTAALB) at Kinzer Coins groups genuine pieces, revealing Constantinian women's rare numismatic footprint before Christianity reshaped empress roles.
Fausta's Enduring Enigma
Executed empress coins survive despite erasure attempts—scarcity from damnatio + female rarity. They document 4th-century transition: pagan family goddesses → Christian imperial motherhood.
Perfect for studying Constantine court dynamics: tetrarchy survivor marries unifier, bears Christian heirs, dies in scandal rocking first Christian dynasty.
Explore Fausta Coins at Kinzer Coins
Kinzer Coins' "History's Mysteries" album features Empress Fausta bronzes with full provenance. "New to Ancients" supports beginners with grading info, dynasty timelines.
Kinzer Coins: Uncovering ancient numismatics for newcomers.