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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,507 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
I just received this Hadrian denarius in the mail the other day. It is a lower grade AFRICA, one of his travel series coins. It looks fine to me by style, with old toning and a variety of bumps and scrapes. However, there are those tiny raised spots of metal on both sides. They look too small to be casting bubbles, but they do get me curious so I thought I'd ask what people think about it. I purchased it from an ebay seller in the Ukraine who has 100% positive feedback and the rest of the coins he is offering look fine. It does have a 14 day return. I think it's authentic, but it doesn't hurt to ask. The rims show no signs of seams and the weight is 3.06 grams. Thanks for sharing your opinions.   Paul Bulgerin
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice coin. I like that she is holding a Scorpion.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
564 Posts |
So cool, I want one, didn't know ancient coins have AFRICA on it.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2624 Posts |
Cool, can you get in close on the split to see if its been made that way or split?
I see what you mean about the lumps in the fields and have no explaination. I would love to hear an explanation.
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Moderator
Australia
16831 Posts |
Quote:
So cool, I want one, didn't know ancient coins have AFRICA on it. At the time of Hadrian, the Roman province of Africa comprised what we now call eastern Algeria, all of Tunisia, and western Libya. To the ancient Greeks and Romans, "Africa" meant what we now call north Africa, except for Egypt; nobody in ancient times considered Egypt to be part of Africa. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
3098 Posts |
The flange split looks old, is toned inside and also has dirt inside of it.
Paul Bulgerin
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
From the pictures alone, the coin looks perfectly OK to me.
Pictures looking inside the split will certainly help to asses for authenticity but so far, I am quite optimistic.
I suspect that the lumps may be caused by silver crystallization. If that is the case, the coin has lost much of it's structural strength, and should be handled with a little more care.
Search 'silver crystallisation' Forum Ancient coins, for more information.
Horn silver deterioration can be another problem with ancient coins.
Edited by sel_69l
07/27/2017 6:49 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4883 Posts |
I wouldn't consider that "lower grade" at all. The legends are complete, and the devices still retain a good deal of the original design. Very well rendered portrait. Overall, a great coin. I see why you might be concerned over those tiny bumps, but I'd say if it's a cast forgery, it's still a masterful one but for that detail.
Colligo ergo sum
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
Nice looking coin man, I'd love one of the travel series is pretty high on my list.
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Valued Member
Australia
205 Posts |
Hi,
I am by no means an expert.
HOWEVER:
The weight is within the correct range.
It is not in FORVM's fake reports.
The details are not soft / soapy.
Importantly - I cannot find a casting twin / mother in online auction databases. I looked at all of the ones of the same type as yours.
Were it not for the raised dots which I agree would be of concern otherwise, I would not have had any doubt about your coin if were mine. The toning also looks genuine, not like the toning you would find on a cast fake.
Peter
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
What are all the bumps on the obverse? And some on the reverse?
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,507 |
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Posted 07/27/2017 5:40 pm
