And my first Hadrian. Just arrived today and it's pretty exciting to hold. I liked how the patina in the fields drew out the details so I took the plunge. Let me know if the attribution is correct. Hadrian Sestertius 125-128 AD 33.5mm, 27.92 grams OBV: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate head right REV: COS III, Roma seated left, holding Victory and cornucopiae SC in ex Rome mint? RIC II 636
A Hadrian sestertius, very impressive indeed. Congratulations. I don't have a bronze coin of his, only these in silver. This imperial Denarius with Annona reverse And this provincial hemidrachm of Capadocia
That is correct. It was minted in Rome in AD 127. Other catalog numbers: BMCRE 1301; Cohen 343; Hill, Undated Coins of Rome 335; Sear RCV 3585.
Those are great! I especially like the obv on the denarius. Wow, thanks for the detail. How did you pinpoint the date so well?
They're great in hand aren't they? I think this was my first sestertius (at least that I still own), Serverus Alexander. Nice and chunky.
Below is my first: Gordian III, AD 238-244 AE, sestertius, 25.46g, 32.5mm; 12h; Rome, AD 238-239 Obv.: IMP CAES MANT GORDIANVS AVG; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Rev.: VICTORIA AVG; Victory advancing left, carrying wreath and palm; S-C Before this coin I had purchased a couple pretty sweet chunky bronze coins from the Ptolemaic kingdom.
Very attractive coin (I love the patina) and it also happens to be one of my favorite types for a Hadrian sestertius. Get ready to become addicted! My current favorite Hadrian sestertius:
Hard to go wrong with a nicely worn sestertius . My only Hadrian sestertius... HADRIAN AE Sestertius. 20.76g, 33mm. Rome mint, AD 128-132. RIC II 970c. O: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, laureate bust right, draped on left shoulder. R: HILARITAS P R, Hilaritas standing left, holding long palm branch upright in right hand and cornucopiae in left; at her feet, on left, a small naked boy standing right, touching palm; on right, a small girl standing left, touching dress of Hilaritas; COS III in exergue, S - C in field.
That's a beauty. I can see how these would be addictive. Worn examples are at least interesting to see and sharp examples are beauties. These won't be good for my budget.
Ah the thrill of holding your first Roman Sestertius, mine was a Marcus Aurelius back in 1986, I don't own the coin anymore, but I remember the thrill of that moment!
Nice, hefty chunk of history! Congratulations on your first major bronze. Nothing like the hefty feel of a sestertius in your hand. This is my current favorite:
Wonderful posts!! There's just no other feeling like holding a 'big bronze' in hand... These two were the first sestertii that I purchased when I returned to collecting during 2015---and still among my favorites: Trajan Decius, Orichalcum Sestertius, Rome mint, 249-251 AD; 14.89 grams, 31.0 mm IMP C N Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG; laureate, cuirassed bust right. PAX AVGVSTI; Pax standing, facing head left, raising olive branch in right, tranverse long scepter in left; S C flanking fields. RIC IV 125a; Cohen V 93 Gordian III, Orichalcum Sestertius, Rome mint, July 238 AD; 16.67 grams, 30.1 mm IMP GORDIANVS PIVS FEL AVG; laureate, cuirassed bust right. AETERNITATI AVG, Sol standing slightly left, radiate, nude, chalmys over shoulder; Raising hand, commanding the sun to rise. RIC IV 297a, Cohen V 43
My First AE Sestertius I purchased via CT (compared to a Roman Republic AR Sestertius): RR AR Sestertius 211-208BCE vs RE AE Sestertius Marcus Aurelius 161-180AD
