After a few months of searching for a hadrian & losing many times on ebay, I settled on my backup I had bookmarked, got $30 off asking which made me :hail: I especially liked that its a varient bust type. Hadrian (117 - 138 A.D.) AR Denarius Rome Mint O: IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG Laureate, draped bust right. R: P M TR P-COS III Libertas seated left, branch in right hand, vertical scepter in left LIB PVB in exergue. 19mm 3.46g RIC II 127 var. (bust type), RSC 903a
It's sometimes nice to have a variation rather than the norm, and even more so when its an unlisted type. Congrats!
What a great coin! Although I don't collect coins, I'd be willing to "accumulate" that one, for sure. Here's a Hadrian I used for some research. I wish mine was of the better quality like yours. guy
An attractive coin. You certainly do have a knack for picking out interesting minor rarities when you select denarii! Fyi, I would probably write the reference as "RIC II 127 var. (bust type)." Yours is a good coin as well! It might appear rougher, but that's because its struck from a debased silver alloy. Apples to oranges.
Made the adjustment Bill, thank you. Nice one Guy, I like the reverse especially. As for my bust type, Curtis Clay replied with a update on this particular bust.
I think I do, but am not positive. I know I have a few nice bronzes. I do find Hadrian about the height of Roman artistry. I mean I like a lot of Republicans, and early empire, but in my opinion Hadrian's reign was the pinnacle of Roman artistry on their coinage. Trajan would be a close second.
Both are nice coins. If I had the chance to buy just one of the two for the same price, I would select the Alexandrian (but I would have to get out my saw to free it from captivity).
Ditto, I do take condition into consideration depending on the emperor/empress but if the Alexandrian was available for the same price, or even a bit more, I would have gotten it. I also would free it from that plastic tomb, lol.
