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Adriano e la Fides Publica 
18.10.2004
MONETA FIDES PUBLICA 
Buonasera,
sono un giovane appassionato di Storia Romana. Cosa ne pensa di questa moneta che le allego in foto?! Le sembra autentica o meno? Se autentica, e ne ho i miei dubbi, potrebbe gentilmente stimarla? Il problema è che so solamente il peso decifrabile per risposta del possibile venditore intorno ai 4 grammi. Il venditore vorrebbe vendere a 35 Euro. Grazie. 
Distinti Saluti.

Buonasera Dott. Giulio,
le allego di seguito la risposta del venditore, spero possa esserLe di aiuto per la sua valutazione:
 Hello Gabriele; good afternoon; the weigth is 3,35grs and diameter 18mms. I am sorry, but I don't know what is AXIS. In spanish mean "eje"; obverse is 
up and reverse is down; is it what you ask?.
Best regards.

 fig. 1
Roma, 20.10.2004
Egregio Lettore,
di seguito riporto gli elementi che mi è stato possibile raccogliere sulla sua moneta:

Denario1, zecca di Roma, 134-8 d. C., RIC II  241A(a), BMC III 627,  C /II 716, indice di rarità "c".
D. HADRIANVS    AVGCOSIIIPP. Adriano, testa nuda a destra.
R. FIDES    PVBLICA. La Fides Publica drappeggiata, in piedi a destra sorregge con la mano sinistra un cestino di frutta e con la destra delle spighe volte in basso.2

A titolo di confronto e per le indicazioni di valore riporto i link relativi a monete di tipologia simile reperiti nel WEB:

  1. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s3492.html (testa laureata) *AAH* Hadrian Den "Fides holds fruit basket" Hadrian AD 117-138 Silver Denarius "May the emperor be well in both mind and body." Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP - Bare head right Rev: FIDES PVBLICA - Fides standing right, holding basket of fruit in left hand and corn-ears in right hand. Rome mint AD 134-138 = RIC II, 241Aa, page 368 - Cohen 716, 2.41 g. Winning bid: US $11.00 Seller information  Ended: Jul-10-03 19:46:06
  2. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.1-o.jpg (testa laureata) 

  3. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.1-r.jpg Lot: 23   Rome. Ancient. Empire. Hadrian. AR Denarius (3.47 Gm). (RIC 241A) Grade:EF
    AD 117-138. L .
  4. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.2-o.jpg (testa nuda) 

  5. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.2-r.jpg ORC6642 Hadrian, den. Fides, aEF Hadrian, AR denarius, (3.04g) HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Bare head right. / FIDES P VBLICA Fides standing right, holding corn ears and basket of fruit. RIC241A. Near EF Currently $89.00
  6. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.3.jpg (testa laureata) a290 - Roman Imperial  Hadrian, Emperor 117 – 138 AD, AR Denarius, Rome Mint, 134 -138  AD, 3.42gm, 17mm, Obv: Laureate head right, HADRIANVS AVG.COS.III  P.P., Rev: FIDES PVBLICA, Fides standing right, holding corn-ears  and basket of fruit, RIC 241a, Common, nice Fine to VF, pretty  coin with a nice portrait, good metal, moderate wear and a  slightly irregular flan.   In “A Dictionary of Ancient Roman Coins”, Jones says of Fides,  “’Good faith, loyalty, trustworthiness’, a personification  frequently represented on Roman coins in the form of a female  figure. The abstract idea of Fides is sometimes expressed in  other ways. The cult of Fides (specifically Fides Publica or the  good faith of the State) was practiced in Rome from a very early  time…but on coins of Vespasian and on those of many later  emperors ears of grain and a basket of fruit are more commonly  found. This suggests that the idea behind the FIDES PVBLICA which  such coins promise is the reliability of the grain supply (cf.  Annona).” The temple of Fides in Rome was also called the Fides  Publica and the temple of Fides Publica Populi Romani. 
  7. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.4-o.jpg (testa nuda) 

  8. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.4-r.jpg ORC28 - HADRIAN Denarius Fides, VF Hadrian, AR Denarius, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right. / FIDES PVBLICA, Fides, personifying good faith, loyalty, and confidence, stands right, holding a basket of fruit and grain ears. RSC 716, RIC 241a, BMC 627, (3.3 gm.), VF. Publius Aelius Hadrianus had a successful military career, and married wisely - into Emperor Trajan's family. Hadrian was proclaimed as Trajan's heir, but (perhaps significantly) not until after the Emperor died. With the army supporting him, the Senate acquiesced, and Hadrian began a long reign, noted for extensive travel to all corners of the Empire, the building of extensive defensive frontier fortifications, and as the Golden Age of Roman law. Currently$31.00 Ends: Dec-19-00 17:51:48 PST
  9. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.5.jpg (testa nuda) Hadrian, AR denarius, (3.40g) Rome Mint, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Laureate head right. / FIDES P VBLICA Fides standing, head right, holding corn ears and tray of fruit. Near EF Currently $26.00 Ends: 10:12:23 PST
  10. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.6.jpg (testa nuda) Imperial Rome, Hadrian 117 - 138 AD. AR Denarius of 134 - 138 AD. Rome Mint. 3.27g. HADRIANVS AVG. COS. III P.P., his bare head rt. / FIDES PVBLICA, Fides standing rt., holding a basket of fruit and a pair of corn-ears. RIC 241. Nice EF with a very handsome bare headed image of this great emperor who consolidated Trajan's gains into a peaceful and secure state. Currently $47.00 Ends: 12:54:43 PDT
  11. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.7.jpg (testa nuda) HADRIAN, 117-138 AD. AR Denarius (3.40 gm). Bare head / Fides standing with grain-ears and dish of fruit. RSC.716. VF+. [Est $85] Currently $40.00 Ends  Oct-09-00 09:15:11 PDT
  12. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.8.jpg (testa nuda) Roman Empire. Hadrian. A.D. 117-138. AR Denarius. 3.428 grams. Obverse: HADRIANVS AVG. COS. III. P. P. Head, bare, r. Reverse: FIDES PVBLICA. Fides  standing r., holding corn-ears and basket of fruit. RIC 368, 241A. Cohen 716. Superb Extremely Fine. Currently $86.34 Ends Apr-18-01 18:05:15 PDT
  13. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.9.jpg (testa laureata) Lot: 51   ROMAN. (HADRIAN, 117-138 AD. AR Denarius (3.15 gm). Laureate head / Fides standing holding grain-ears and fruit-basket. RIC.241a. Toned aVF. [Est $95]) [L350035] Next Bid: $52.00
  14. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.10.jpg (testa nuda) Hadrian, 117-138CE, silver denarius, 16-17mm. Obverse : HADRIANUS AUG. COS. III. P.P.   - bare head right. Reverse : FIDES PUBLICA - Fides stg. left, fdraped, holding corn   ears and basket of fruits. Grade aVF/gF. Strong strike, light toning, even wear, nice   detailed portrait. Ref. RSC 716 Currently $16.51 May-08-00 ends 10:04:39 PDT
  15. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/ric/hadrian/RIC_0241A.11.jpg (testa laureata) HADRIAN Publius Aelius Hadrianus Emperor AD 117-138  Silver Denarius Obverse: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP His bare head right Reverse: FIDES PVBLICA, Fides standing right holding basket of fruits and ears of grain Currently $21.51Jun-27-00 Ends 10:04:26 PDT
  16. http://www.monetaromana.de/muenze31.htm (testa nuda) HADRIAN (117 - 138) AR Denar Münzstätte Rom, von 134/136 Vs.: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P Kopf n. r. Rs.: FIDES PVBLICA Fides steht n. r. mit Kornähren und Früchtekorb C. 716, RIC 241A, BMC 627 fast vorzüglich markantes Porträt EUR 110,00 Ø 18 mm - 3,40 g Unsere Bestellnummer: 15ag-31
  17. http://www.antike-muenzen.de/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=254 (testa laureata) HADRIANUS, Denar / Fides [00053] 270.00EUR HADRIANUS, 117-138 AD. AR Denar (3.23 gm). HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, belorberter Kopf r./ FIDES PVBLICA, Fides steht r., hält Früchtekorb und Kornähren . C. 716-8; RIC 241. Prägefrisches Exemplar. Dieses Produkt haben wir am Donnerstag, 22. Juli 2004 in unseren Katalog aufgenommen.
  18. http://www.vcoins.com/glennwoods/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1367&large=1 (testa laureata) Hadrian, 117-138, Silver Denarius, RIC-II-241a-C, struck 134-148 at Rome, 3.44 grams, 18 mm. EF Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP - Laureate head of Hadrian facing right Rev: FIDES PVBLICA - Fides standing right, holding corn ears and basket of fruit Well centered and struck on a nice planchet with light toning adhering to the devices. Attractive. Price  $ 246.00  € 196,66   £ 136,54 Rates for 10/19/2004 
Le caratteristiche fisiche della moneta di figura, sono compatibili con il denario d'epoca, lo stile sembra accettabile. Tuttavia l'immagine che mi ha inviato non è granché e quindi è un po' difficile trarre conclusioni definitive dal mero esame della foto.

Un saluto cordiale. 
Giulio De Florio
www.monetaromana.it

-------------------------- 
Note: 
(1) Il denario adrianeo aveva un contenuto di fine dell'ordine del 75-85% (il resto essendo costituito per lo più da rame),  pesava 3,21g (come media su 733 campioni); picco di frequenza, 3,17g. Di seguito trascrivo le caratteristiche fisiche di un certo numero di denari della stessa tipologia presenti al British Museum:
 

BMC Peso (g.) Diametro (mm) Asse di conio (ore) (*)
627 2,96 17,78  6
628 3,41 19,05  6
629 3.13 19,05  6
630 3,43 20,32  6
631 2,75 19,05  6
632 3,42 19,05  6
(*) asse di conio, in inglese "die axis".
(2) Trascrivo dal 4° dei siti sopra segnalati alcune considerazioni sulla Fides. La Fides rappresenta la buonafede, la lealtà, affidabilità , una personificazione frequentemente rappresentata sulle monete romane in panni femminili. L'idea astratta della Fides viene talvolta espressa in altri modi. Il culto della Fides (in particolare quella pubblica ossia la buonafede dello stato) era praticato a Roma sin dagli inizi ma è sulle monete di Vespasiano e su quelle di molti imperatori più tardi che si trovano più di frequente spighe di grano e un cestino di frutta. Ciò suggerisce che l'idea dietro la FIDES PVBLICA sia la sicurezza del rifornimento di grano. A Roma il tempio dedicato alla Fides era anche chiamato "Fides  Publica" e anche tempio della "Fides Publica del Populo Romano". 
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