Questionable Hadrian Ric 3c

With the first coin, the style of the portrait is not consistent with the style of any genuine Hadrian coin that I am familiar with.
*Ed: Just looked at over 300 portraits on Hadrian denarii, my mind is still the same

The fields of the first coin are a bit rougher as well.

The portrait on the first coin looks more like Trajan with a beard and curly hair added. The rough surface and crude details are a sign of an unofficial coin. IMO it's not a recent fake but a contemporary to the period one.

An extremely interesting reverse for Hadrian ( ADOPTIO )

Hadrian had been orphaned as a young man and being a "blood" relation to the Imperial family was taken in as a ward by Trajan.
While clearly a favorite of the Emperor it is the succession which is cloudier. The adoption by Trajan took place literally on the death bed.
It may even have been arranged by the Empress Plotina. Either way Hadrian needed to do some 'spin' and make his elevation secure by getting the support of the legions. Particularly the eastern legions of Syria.
I think it possible the coin is an Antioch issue used by the new regime to spread the message (as well as the money !) among the soldiers.
Remember too the first thing Hadrian did as emperor. He 'brought the boys home' by withdrawing from Mesopotamia ! Surely a gift to the Syrian legions who must have been thrilled not to have to rotate in and out of a place where summer temperatures (then as now) can exceed 130 degrees in the shade !

I believe the portrait could be a reworked Trajan die (often done at the start of new reigns) and accounts for the strange 'family' resemblance.

It took me a few minutes to come around on this one. My initial reaction was the same as 'sel'
Essentially ...... No no no the portrait is all wrong. He actually looks like he has "mutton chops" !

Any other reverse and I would 'punt' on this one.
But this reverse is quite likely one of the first (if not the very first) issue of an incredibly long list of types.

Here's a funky one. I got this coin in a mixed batch back in 1998. I wonder what Curtis would say about it.
I would very much like to hear what you think of it, especially if anything turns up in online resources.





At the time I thought it was a barbarous imitation. Still do.

The coin weighs 2.22g and measures 17x18mm. It is silver throughout but about 37% lighter than normal for Hadrian's late period (135-138)
The flan is too small for the die, and obscures the inscriptions on both sides. Nonetheless, the inscriptions correspond as follows:


The obverse inscription is unique for Hadrian and begins "[HAD]RIANVS AVG COS ... and could only conclude with "... III PP"

the reverse is not known for Hadrian but is associated for type and inscription with his successor Ant Pius in 144 AD (BMC 504) with the inscription "COS III DES IIII"**
[Pax draped, stg l; holding branch downward in extending r hand and cornucopiae in l.]

**DESignatus qualifies an individual who has been elected to future office but has not yet taken up the appointment. Most commonly encountered on the Imperial coinage on issues belonging to the end of the year, just prior to the emperor's assumption of a new consulship on January 1st (e.g. COS II DES III P P). --David Sear


This reverse corresponds to BMCRE 504; RIC 117; Strack 132; Seaby Silver II 187/8 for Ant Pius

Needless to say, this reverse does not belong with a denarius of Hadrian. However, the fact that it does fit in the early period of Hadrian's immediate successor opens the door for some kind of mix up. BMC classes the mint for the normal obverse as "Uncertain" under the general heading of "Eastern Mints"

Hybrids like this are usually an indication of unofficial minting.

What do you make of it?
May I please have a reply from someone?