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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,175 |
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Valued Member
United States
109 Posts |
Really happy to have picked this Hadrian Denarius up. Interesting character in Roman history. RIC II 77a/ Cohen 1102. 3.57g, 18.8 mm.   |
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
I have an Italian relative by marriage, his name is Adriano (Hadrian). Excellent portrait - a real plus for Roman coins, looks nothing like my relo.  although my niece has a pHd in Roman acheology. |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Excellent detail, four more of the good one to go.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6130 Posts |
And a first year type to boot! Excellent pick-up!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
It's very beautiful
I've gotten in trouble before
And I will certainly get in trouble again .......
But it's so beautiful I think I would want to get it inspected by Mssr Sear
Beauty has been the downfall of many a "poor" boy
Some of the magnificent 'duds' of late have been of the 5 good emperors
But I do hope for the best
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Pillar of the Community
 Spain
2752 Posts |
I've sat back and waited to see if anyone else thought the same as me...
When I firt saw this coin it didn't seem right..I can't put my finger on why but the overal look seems wrong?...But I hasten to add that I'm not really experienced enough, or brave enough, to say its not real? Obviously FVRIVS RVFVS has a similar feeling what about some of the other experts?
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Moderator
United States
34423 Posts |
@CF, I can't comment with any authority on your coin's authenticity, but to my inexperienced eyes, there isn't anything obviously worrisome. @FR and @palouche are much better judges of this!
I do see a rough patch on the portrait's neck, but that looks like damage rather than casting bubbles. I'm interested to see what others think.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
 United States
109 Posts |
Thanks all for the input. You guys certainly have much more experience in collecting coins then I do. I definitely will take it to a respected dealer in the area for his opinion. Weight and size are same as others I looked into while researching this variety. have found from other sales. I got it from Frank Robinson's last auction. Came in a coin flip that appears to be marked from a different auction company, can't recall name and away from house at the moment.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1120 Posts |
Provenance is always very helpful in determining authenticity. Frank Robinson is a very reputable seller, so I'd be happy to own a coin purchased from him.  Congratulations on a spectacular specimen. Edited by travelcoin
04/25/2019 4:20 pm
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Moderator
United States
34423 Posts |
@tc, you are spot on about provenance.
I agree that Frank is reputable, although I have commented in the past here about his willingness to sell fakes. He clearly labels those lots as fakes but I would prefer if he abstained from selling them at all.
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Valued Member
Canada
66 Posts |
If it is from Frank Robinson it's good... if on the 1% chance a mistake was made he will certainly make it right.
Beautiful coin.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
My 'gut feeling says genuine, that makes me 99% sure.
I would never have thought otherwise, but the prompting has made me consider that there is no sign of metal flow on the outside of edge tops of the letters in the legend. I really don't thinks this means much, and I still really do feel that it's genuine.
Have a look inside those radial edge cracks with a powerful loupe. The metal inside the cracks should exhibit tensile metal distress, resulting from the strike. At least that should prove that it's not pressure die cast, or centrifugal die cast.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
It is the reverse legend which first attracted my 'jaundiced' eye
Look carefully at the P M TR P
With the exception of the second P the die engraver has really made a hash of them
Now compare with the COS III
They look different
And they look somewhat "distressed" while the flan of the coin shows no such "distress"
In fact the fields are perfect
Like the die had a machine lapped surface
Without holding the piece in hand we are all somewhat in the dark
But I do see some sparks !
Lastly
Can anyone here name a well respected dealer or auction house that has not "pulled" a coin listed or otherwise been fooled by a good fake ?
If you can then I suspect that either they have not been active for many years nor have they listed many coins for sale !
Regrettably fakes are something we must endure
And when seeking an expert I recommend paying an old fossil like David Sear
(rather than asking a 30 something salesman wearing a tailored Italian suit and with a Porsche roadster parked outside)
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
Without taking to someone with the experience of David Sear,
perhaps may I suggest that you take it to a scrap gold buyer, who has a hand held XRF instrument.
Consider the percentage of alloying metals, not the silver.
My take on a typical alloy analysis for a denarius of Hadrian is that
:- silver purity should be round 92%, if the alloy follows established research into the debasement history of Roman silver coins,
:- copper alloy deliberately added about 5%,
:- all other metals combined around 3%.
Note that the Romans were incapable of refining silver beyond about 97% purity. hence my comment "all other metals combined around 3%"
If you get a discreet alloy analysis of .900 fine, or .925 fine sterling silver, or even a lesser purity but with only copper in the alloy, you can safely bet that a modern coinage metal was used.
Edited by sel_69l
04/27/2019 10:16 am
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New Member
United States
6 Posts |
Very attractive coin. Great eye appeal!
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,175 |
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Posted 04/24/2019 08:44 am
