Jump to content

Hadrian As - Difficult Reverse For Me


Furryfrog02

Recommended Posts

This was a pick up from Harlan J. Berk's pick bin at the Baltimore show a few weeks ago.  I figured it would be fairly easy since the ruler (Hadrianus) and the reverse could be made out even though there isn't much legend. I was wrong.

The reverse looks to be Abundantia or Ceres seated left, holding a cornucopia and with a modius filled with corn ears at her feet. 

The problem I am running into is that in exergue, it clearly says COS I--- and I can't find anything with that in the reverse. 

What am I missing? It has to be something easy. I think I've just been looking at this coin for too long.

 

slazzer-edit-image(1).png.2dd4a331313acbcd96f9797ff81678f4.png

 

20231130_195629.jpg.019e16c46a366586d524ac0493f577d7.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, DonnaML said:

I'm not convinced it says COS I. Have you looked for COS with some other number?

I couldn't find anything with a COS in exergue. There are legends with COS (blah blah) but none that I could find with it below like mine.

9 minutes ago, ominus1 said:

dupondius..i've got one about like it  i can make out a radiate crown i do believe...:)..sorry i don't have any clue for the reverse

I wasn't sure if it was a dupondius or As. I thought dupondius were orichalcum and tended to be that yellow color whereas asses were struck in bronze which would then end up with a green patina like mine. 

I forgot to add the weight/diameter in the original post, not that it probably matters much. 11.90g/27-28mm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting! I can't find anything exactly like it either.

Might the modius/corn ears be a globe and rudder? Like on this coin:

6397183.jpg.f38252c42f4d1703d9b3401b276cd3b0.jpg

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6397183

Is there any way the exergual legend on your coin might be something other than "COS --"? It does look like it from the photo, but just to make sure, it couldn't be something else?

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

31 minutes ago, CPK said:

Interesting! I can't find anything exactly like it either.

Might the modius/corn ears be a globe and rudder? Like on this coin:

6397183.jpg.f38252c42f4d1703d9b3401b276cd3b0.jpg

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=6397183

Is there any way the exergual legend on your coin might be something other than "COS --"? It does look like it from the photo, but just to make sure, it couldn't be something else?

It has to be something else right? I tried making it into FORTVNA but I can only see COS. Perhaps the rudder is just really worn? I'm not sure. Gotta be my eyes/mind playing tricks on me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, Furryfrog02 said:

Thanks all for confirming my (in)sanity. I was really losing it. 

It's still hard for me to see anything but "COS" in that exergual legend. But I guess it's either a totally new type or else a deceptive-looking legend.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

So, not to beat a dead horse....but I've been looking for a match on wildwinds and Acsearch. There is only 1 that I can find which is kind of interesting to me. All of the radiate crowned Hadrian dupondius(es?ai?) have a much longer legend than mine, which looks to be HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS PP.

 

Here is the one obverse match I could find on acsearch:
HADRIAN, A.D. 117-138. AE Dupondius (27mm, 10.41 g), Rome Mint, A.D. 132-134. Ob...

From N&N London Auction 14
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/nnlondon/browse?a=3325&l=3800839

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...