Julius Germanicus Posted January 7, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 7, 2023 After a rather miserable collecting year with five of my favourite bronzes being stolen from the mail and missing out on signing up for the Secret Saturnalia, I received an offer that I could not refuse from our noble member Qcumbor - a well worn, but nevertheless desirable Sestertius of Hadrian's famed Provincial series FOR FREE! This is indeed a most welcome New Years gift, not only fitting nicely into my theme of unpatinated Sestertii, but especially into my new goal to start a sub-collection of Sestertii commemorating Hadrian´s travels announced in my recent “Top 10 of 2022” post: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P - Bare headed and draped bust of Hadrian right /RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE, S C in exergue – Hadrian, togated, standing left, holding scroll in left hand, holding out his right hand to Hispania knelt in front of him, with an olive-branch on left shoulder. Between them: a rabbit to the right Sestertius, Rome 130-133 AD 33 mm / 24.3 gr / 12 h RIC 1866 (scarce); BMCRE 1816 note; Cohen 1263; Sear 3633; Banti 661 (7 specimens); Cayon 653 (same dies as specimen illustrated on p. 199) The restitutor type shows the provincial figure, usually female, being raised from her knees by the benevolent Emperor with the legend RESTITVTORI plus the name of the province. Hispania, being the Emperor´s ancestral province, was one of the provinces that got the most coverage in the provincial cycle, matched only by Africa, the bread basket of the empire. Hispania is presented here with her familiar animal, the rabbit, the very namesake of the peninsula (called “Hishphanim”, land of the rabbits, by the Phoenicians) and her attribute, the olive branch, not just appropriate to a land of peace, but also a reminder that Iberia was “oil country” (the largest exporter of olive oil then and now). The missing details can be seen on this specimen struck from the same pair of dies (ex Conte A. Magnagutti collection, Auction P. &. P. Santamaria 26.06.1950): My New Year's gift is a great addition as it represents both a different representation type, and a new province as compared to my first Sestertius of Hadrians´ travel series, which features Aegyptos as a single figure: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP - Bare-headed draped bust of Hadrian right / AEGYPTOS, S C in exergue- Ægyptos reclining left, leaning left elbow on a basket of fruit, holding up sistrum in right hand, ibis on column in front Sestertius, Rome 130-133 AD 32 mm / 24.86g / 12 h RIC 1595; BMCRE 1692; Cohen 110; Sear 3572; Banti 42 (3 specimens), Cayon 81 (800 SFR) ex Dix Noonan Webb Auction 257 (13,07.2022), lot 990 And here is a rare Sestertius loosely related to Hadrian´s travels, featuring one of the ships carrying him around the provinces: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS - Laureate head of Hadrian left / [FELICITATI AVG](around) S C - COS III P P (in exergue) Sestertius, Rome 131 (seemingly the third recorded specimen) 30,88 mm / 23,79 gr / 12 h Cayón (Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano II) p. 97, 316 (same dies), citing Ratto (Roma Imperiale nelle Monete di Adriano e di sua famiglia); Cohen 689, citing specimen in Bibliothèque nationale, Paris There shall be more to follow soon! Thank you again my friend Qcumbor for making my day and giving this year such a wonderful start! Please post anything related and have a great 2023 you all!!! 17 1 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted January 7, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted January 7, 2023 I'm glad you like it and because it's unpatinated AND part of the travel series, it naturally belongs in your collection rather than mine ! Nice writeup BTW 🙂 Q 3 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Kowsky Posted January 7, 2023 · Member Share Posted January 7, 2023 11 minutes ago, Julius Germanicus said: After a rather miserable collecting year with five of my favourite bronzes being stolen from the mail and missing out on signing up for the Secret Saturnalia, I received an offer that I could not refuse from our noble member Qcumbor - a well worn, but nevertheless desirable Sestertius of Hadrian's famed Provincial series FOR FREE! This is indeed a most welcome New Years gift, not only fitting nicely into my theme of unpatinated Sestertii, but especially into my new goal to start a sub-collection of Sestertii commemorating Hadrian´s travels announced in my recent “Top 10 of 2022” post: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P - Bare headed and draped bust of Hadrian right /RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE, S C in exergue – Hadrian, togated, standing left, holding scroll in left hand, holding out his right hand to Hispania knelt in front of him, with an olive-branch on left shoulder. Between them: a rabbit to the right Sestertius, Rome 130-133 AD 33 mm / 24.3 gr / 12 h RIC 1866 (scarce); BMCRE 1816 note; Cohen 1263; Sear 3633; Banti 661 (7 specimens); Cayon 653 (same dies as specimen illustrated on p. 199) The restitutor type shows the provincial figure, usually female, being raised from her knees by the benevolent Emperor with the legend RESTITVTORI plus the name of the province. Hispania, being the Emperor´s ancestral province, was one of the provinces that got the most coverage in the provincial cycle, matched only by Africa, the bread basket of the empire. Hispania is presented here with her familiar animal, the rabbit, the very namesake of the peninsula (called “Hishphanim”, land of the rabbits, by the Phoenicians) and her attribute, the olive branch, not just appropriate to a land of peace, but also a reminder that Iberia was “oil country” (the largest exporter of olive oil then and now). The missing details can be seen on this specimen struck from the same pair of dies (ex Conte A. Magnagutti collection, Auction P. &. P. Santamaria 26.06.1950): My New Year's gift is a great addition as it represents both a different representation type, and a new province as compared to my first Sestertius of Hadrians´ travel series, which features Aegyptos as a single figure: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP - Bare-headed draped bust of Hadrian right / AEGYPTOS, S C in exergue- Ægyptos reclining left, leaning left elbow on a basket of fruit, holding up sistrum in right hand, ibis on column in front Sestertius, Rome 130-133 AD 32 mm / 24.86g / 12 h RIC 1595; BMCRE 1692; Cohen 110; Sear 3572; Banti 42 (3 specimens), Cayon 81 (800 SFR) ex Dix Noonan Webb Auction 257 (13,07.2022), lot 990 And here is a rare Sestertius loosely related to Hadrian´s travels, featuring one of the ships carrying him around the provinces: HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS - Laureate head of Hadrian left / [FELICITATI AVG](around) S C - COS III P P (in exergue) Sestertius, Rome 131 (seemingly the third recorded specimen) 30,88 mm / 23,79 gr / 12 h Cayón (Los Sestercios del Imperio Romano II) p. 97, 316 (same dies), citing Ratto (Roma Imperiale nelle Monete di Adriano e di sua famiglia); Cohen 689, citing specimen in Bibliothèque nationale, Paris There shall be more to follow soon! Thank you again my friend Qcumbor for making my day and giving this year such a wonderful start! Please post anything related and have a great 2023 you all!!! Praise to Q for his thoughtful generosity ☺️! 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roman Collector Posted January 7, 2023 · Patron Share Posted January 7, 2023 That's fantastic, @Julius Germanicus! And what a thoughtful thing for @Qcumbor! This board has the kindest, most thoughtful members! 3 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limes Posted January 7, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted January 7, 2023 Excellent coin, and informative write up! And your Aegyptos and galley reverse sestertius are very nice as well. I'll echo the words of @Roman Collector; its truly an amazing, beautiful and moving gesture @Qcumbor! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor DonnaML Posted January 7, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted January 7, 2023 What a truly wonderful, generous gift by @Qcumbor! Congratulations, @Julius Germanicus Here are three "Travel Series" (or related) denarii that are versions of your three "Travel" sestertii. RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE: AEGYPTOS: FELICITATI AVGVSTI: PS: That's really awful about your coins that were stolen from the mail. I'm so sorry. 9 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor Ancient Coin Hunter Posted January 7, 2023 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted January 7, 2023 Nice sestertius from @Qcumbor! What a great gesture. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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