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A couple of Hadrian semisses
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<p>[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 7309580, member: 75937"]These are a couple of <i>semisses</i> that have been part of the CT community for a while. These coins once belonged to [USER=88227]@jb_depew[/USER] and to [USER=77077]@Theodosius[/USER]. I recently acquired them in [USER=42773]@John Anthony[/USER]'s latest auction and I'm happy to add them to my collection. </p><p><br /></p><p>The <i>semis</i>, which literally means "half" in the Latin language, was valued at half an <i>as</i>. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1277889[/ATTACH] </p><p>In the Roman imperial period, the <i>semis</i> was the smallest orichalcum denomination, having twice the value of a copper <i>quadrans</i> and half the value of the copper <i>as</i>. It was the same diameter as the <i>quadrans</i>, so its value resulted from orichalcum having double the value of copper. Patinated specimens can be misidentified as <i>quadrantes</i>. </p><p><br /></p><p>For this reason, most early references list these two coins as <i>quadrantes</i>, but examples without patina demonstrate them to be made of orichalcum, and hence they have been reclassified in more recent references (i.e. RIC 2.3) as <i>semisses</i>.</p><p><br /></p><p>The denomination was issued infrequently and it ceased to be after the reign of Hadrian 117-138 AD. As such, these two coins are some of the last <i>semisses</i> minted. </p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1277891[/ATTACH] </p><p>Hadrian, AD 117-138.</p><p>Roman orichalcum semis, 4.06 g, 18.1 mm, 7 h.</p><p>Rome, AD 121-23.</p><p>Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, eagle standing half right, head turned left, wings open but not spread.</p><p>Rev: P M TR P COS III S C, thunderbolt.</p><p>Refs: RIC 625; RIC 2.3, 624; BMC 1279; Cohen 1167; Strack 579; RCV 3704.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1277894[/ATTACH] </p><p>Hadrian, AD 117-138.</p><p>Roman orichalcum semis, 4.12 g, 18.3 mm, 6 h.</p><p>Rome, AD 124-25, possibly for use in Syria.</p><p>Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS: Bust of Hadrian, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right.</p><p>Rev: COS III S C, lyre.</p><p>Refs: RIC 688; RIC 2.3, 758; BMC 1359-61; Cohen 443; Strack 625; RCV 3701; McAlee 547a.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>Let's see your</i> <i>semisses!</i>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Roman Collector, post: 7309580, member: 75937"]These are a couple of [I]semisses[/I] that have been part of the CT community for a while. These coins once belonged to [USER=88227]@jb_depew[/USER] and to [USER=77077]@Theodosius[/USER]. I recently acquired them in [USER=42773]@John Anthony[/USER]'s latest auction and I'm happy to add them to my collection. The [I]semis[/I], which literally means "half" in the Latin language, was valued at half an [I]as[/I]. [ATTACH=full]1277889[/ATTACH] In the Roman imperial period, the [I]semis[/I] was the smallest orichalcum denomination, having twice the value of a copper [I]quadrans[/I] and half the value of the copper [I]as[/I]. It was the same diameter as the [I]quadrans[/I], so its value resulted from orichalcum having double the value of copper. Patinated specimens can be misidentified as [I]quadrantes[/I]. For this reason, most early references list these two coins as [I]quadrantes[/I], but examples without patina demonstrate them to be made of orichalcum, and hence they have been reclassified in more recent references (i.e. RIC 2.3) as [I]semisses[/I]. The denomination was issued infrequently and it ceased to be after the reign of Hadrian 117-138 AD. As such, these two coins are some of the last [I]semisses[/I] minted. [ATTACH=full]1277891[/ATTACH] Hadrian, AD 117-138. Roman orichalcum semis, 4.06 g, 18.1 mm, 7 h. Rome, AD 121-23. Obv: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG, eagle standing half right, head turned left, wings open but not spread. Rev: P M TR P COS III S C, thunderbolt. Refs: RIC 625; RIC 2.3, 624; BMC 1279; Cohen 1167; Strack 579; RCV 3704. [ATTACH=full]1277894[/ATTACH] Hadrian, AD 117-138. Roman orichalcum semis, 4.12 g, 18.3 mm, 6 h. Rome, AD 124-25, possibly for use in Syria. Obv: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS: Bust of Hadrian, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right. Rev: COS III S C, lyre. Refs: RIC 688; RIC 2.3, 758; BMC 1359-61; Cohen 443; Strack 625; RCV 3701; McAlee 547a. [I]Let's see your[/I] [I]semisses![/I][/QUOTE]
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