Roman Collector Posted May 2 · Patron Share Posted May 2 This came across my social media feed and the first thing I thought of was the Roman coin denomination! So, here's a couple of semisses! Let's see your examples of the denomination. 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. 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. 8 5 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marsyas Mike Posted May 2 · Member Share Posted May 2 As for sports, I never made it to the semis - I never even got past tryouts. But I recently got a semis for Hadrian like the one in the OP: Hadrian Orichalcum Semis (124-125 A.D.) Rome Mint (for Syria) [HAD]RIANVS [AVG]VSTVS, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right / COS III, S-C across field, lyre RIC II Part 3 (2nd ed.) 758 (old RIC II 688 (semis)); RPC III 3763. (3.51 grams / 17 mm) eBay Jan. 2024 Here's a "semis" for Trajan Decius - part of a currency reform that went nowhere, there is some dispute as to what the denomination was, but a lot of folks call it a semis: Here's a Spanish one for Augustus, temple reverse: Augustus Semis (Æ 22) (c. 12 B.C.) Ilici, Spain Q Papirius Car and Q Terentius Montanus, duoviri DIVI F AVGVSTVS, laureate head right / Q PAPIR · CAR· Q TER(E) · MON[T II VIR Q], tetrastyle temple, IVNONI in architrave, [C I] I A in columns. RPC I, 192; SNG Cop 14. (5.37 grams / 22 x 20 mm) eBay April 2021 $5.50 BIN This awful thing is from Spain, an imitation of a Roman Republic issue - the retrograde S indicates the denomination, I guess (thanks to the @Valentinian website to figure it out): Roman Republic Æ Semis Spanish Imitative (1st Century B.C.) Spanish Mint Diademed head of Saturn with spiky hair right, retrograde S behind / Prow right, S above, [ROMA below?] (3.02 grams / 18 x 15 mm) eBay Oct. 2019 Lot @ $1.89 Attribution Note: Michael Crawford, "Unofficial imitations and small change under the Roman Republic," AIIN 29 (1982) 139-164, plates I-VIII and pages 22-226 and plates IX-XI. (Augustus Coins) 8 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambr0zie Posted May 2 · Member Share Posted May 2 I have the 2 types mentioned by @Roman Collector, but here is my favorite Hadrian semis 20 mm, 4,03 g. Hadrian 117-138. Æ semis. Rome. Struck 124-125. HADRIANVS AVGVSTUS, bust of Hadrian, laureate, draped and cuirassed, right, viewed from rear or side / COS III SC, Roma seated left on cuirass, resting foot on helmet, holding Victory and spear; behind, shield. RIC II, Part 3 (second edition) Hadrian 760; RIC II Hadrian 685 (semis). Trajan 23 mm, 6,77 g. Trajan 98-117 AD. Ӕ semis. Rome (possibly for circulation in Syria). 114-117 AD. IMP CAES NER TRAIAN OPTIM AVG GER DAC PARTHICO, radiate and draped bust of Trajan right / P M TR POT XX COS VI P P, S C within oak wreath. RIC II Trajan 660. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edessa Posted May 2 · Supporter Share Posted May 2 Spain, Carteia. After 44 BC. Æ Semis (22mm, 7.15g, 3h). Obv: CARTEIA; Turreted head of Fortuna right. Rev: DD; Neptune standing left, holding dolphin and trident. Ref: SNG Cop 443; ACIP 2615; RPC I 122. 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAZ Numismatics Posted May 2 · Member Share Posted May 2 (edited) You want a semi? Sure... Edited May 2 by JAZ Numismatics 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursus Posted May 2 · Supporter Share Posted May 2 That gave me a good laugh! Roman Republic, anonymous issue ("staff and club series"), AE semis, 208 BC, mint in Etruria (?). Obv: laureate head of Saturn r.; behind, S. Rev: prow r., above, S and horizontal staff; in exergue, ROMA. 28mm, 19.86g. Ref: RRC 106/5 var (position of staff). 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Conduitt Posted May 2 · Supporter Share Posted May 2 Just waiting for Ryro to put his spin on semis... Republic Cn. Domitius Ahenobarbus Semis, 128BC Rome. Bronze, 23mm, 8.27g. Laureate head of Saturn right. Prow of galley right; CN. DOMI above, S, ROMA below (RRC 261/2). 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qcumbor Posted May 2 · Supporter Share Posted May 2 Funny ! Here's a scarce one semis Trajan Decius, Semis - Rome mint, AD 249-250 IMP C M Q TRAIANVS DECIVS AVG Laureate and draped bust right Mars standing left, holding spear and shield. S|C in field 19 mm, 4,71 gr Ref : RIC # 128, Cohen # 102, RCV # 9433 Q 7 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romismatist Posted May 3 · Member Share Posted May 3 How about the Roman municipum of Brundisium? They had a pretty extensive semis issue... Mark of value: "S" underneath head of Poseidon on the obverse (who is being crowned by Victory on the left), and "S" on the reverse between lyre and dolphin's tail on the right. The ethnic "BRVN" below the dolphin indicates an issue of Brundisium... Teate, Paestum and Bitonto all had similar bronze issues. The later "F" series coinage has an extensive (and collectible) series of symbols and magistrate initials. The symbol on this coin is a star in front of the dolphin's nose on the reverse. This series dates to the second century BC, likely ending around the time of the Social Wars in 89 BC. The earliest issues are believed to have been minted in 215 BC. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavius Posted May 3 · Supporter Share Posted May 3 RR Aes Grave semis with Saturn on obverse and prow of ship on reverse. c. 225-217 BCE. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shea19 Posted May 3 · Supporter Share Posted May 3 Domitian, Antioch, AE 'Semis' (21 mm, 7.26g), DOMITI[ANVS CAE]SAR Laureate head of Domitian to left. Rev. Large S•C within wreath. McAlee 403e. RPC II 2017 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAZ Numismatics Posted May 3 · Member Share Posted May 3 (edited) Here's a semis of Trajan, the type struck in Rome for circulation in Syria. Weird patina on this one. I wish it was all black. Maybe I'll spraypaint it. Edited May 3 by JAZ Numismatics 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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