Saw this coin on a second-rate auction site (no, not ebay). I say second-rate because there's not much control or knowledge about coins real, smoothed or tooled. Apparently, any sale is better than pursuing doubts. In my eyes this sestertius was tooled as to the hair, laurels and beard of the emperor, and those pointed Chinese hats in the boat are rather curious on Roman rowers. The lettering is a bit strange, too. Well, possibly I'm wrong. I await your comments! It was unsold by a max bid of 1800 euros ($2000), with an estimate of euro 3900-4300. This is the description by the seller, who is from Austria: Hadrian (AD 117-138). AE Sestertius (26.54 g., 33 mm.), Rome, AD 132-134. Obv.: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate bust r. Rev.: FELICITATI AVG COS III PP SC Galley progressing to l., crewed by five rowers. Ref: RIC 706; C. 668. Very big flan. Mainly dark green and some green-brown patina, some gentle smoothing of the fields with very nice surface. Extremely rare in this condition. Compare with Gorny & Mosch - Auction 236, Lot 453. I wonder if any of you can show a sestertius of Hadrian / galley that looks like it should.
..i don't have one, but i'd think that one has been tooled also, and at that price they could keep it afa i'm concerned.
A genuine example is easily googled. I say genuine as this one is so tooled I wonder if there is any actual undertype at all. It can be said about heavily tooled coins: They will not sell at very high prices, but they will at low. This is best found on Ebay, where the collecting community at large will not know the difference. I would imagine it would sell around $500+/-. I find it sad that they describe 'gentle smoothing' but nothing about the horrendous tooling.
HADRIAN 117 - 138 A.D. AE Sestertius (23.62 g.) Rome ca. 132 - 134 A.D. RIC 706 HADRIANVS - AVGVSTVS Laureate and cuirassed bust r., with drape on on l. shoulder. Rev. FELICITATI / AVG / S - C Galley moving l. with sail steers and and six rowers; standard and vexillum at stern. Below, COS III P P My dealer viewed and approved this coin before I acquired it in an NAC auction earlier this year. It is smoothed but not tooled.
