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Adriano e la Nemesis alata
16.9.2012
Gent.le Sig. De Florio,
le invio la fotografia di questo sesterzio di Adriano del tipo "Nemesis-Pax" di cui non riesco a trovare la precisa classificazione...dovrebbe essere RIC II, 779 ma la testa di Adriano in questo esemplare non è laureata e ci sono delle differenze anche nel rovescio. La moneta ha un diametro di mm.30 e un peso di 25,4 gr. Secondo lei può trattarsi di un falso? Grazie.
fig. 1
Assemini, 17.9.2012
Egregio Lettore,
riporto di seguito gli elementi che mi è stato possibile raccogliere sulla moneta di figura:

Sesterzio (oricalco)1, zecca di Roma, 134 - 138 d. C., RIC II 779a (pag. 439)2, BMC III 1548 (pag. 475), Cohen II 1372 (pag. 219), indice di rarità S

Descrizione sommaria (sono indicate in rosso le parti della leggenda usurate o comunque non più leggibili):
D. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P3. Adriano, testa nuda a destra.
R. S C, a sinistra e a destra in basso nel campo. Nemesis alata, gradiente a destra, allontana dal petto con gesto apotropaico il lembo superiore della veste e sorregge con la mano sinistra un ramo d'ulivo4.

La ricerca nel web di monete di tipologia simile a quella di figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:

  1. http://vbidz.com/auctions/APViewArchiveItem.asp?ID=14257 Lot 363.  Obv: HADRIANVS - AVG COS III P P, Bare head right. Rev: S-C, Victory advancing right. RIC 779. Condition: near Very Fine. Weight: 26.29 grams. Diameter: 31.43 mm. Estimate: US$ 125.00  Lot is Closed Closing Price US$ 79.00.
  2. http://db.stevealbum.com/php/lot_auc.php?site=2&sale=7&lot=50&lang=1&cust=0 Lot 50 n ROMAN EMPIRE: Hadrian, 117-138 AD, AE sestertius (26.3g), RIC-779, HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head right / S-C, Pax-Nemesis advancing right, holding out fold of dress in apotropaic gesture & holding olive branch, very attractive Very Fine. Estimate $225-300. foto 81284/81284N2.
  3. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=98645 155, Lot: 298. Estimate $150. Sold for $131. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Sestertius (30mm, 26.24 g). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 134-138. Bare head right / Nemesis advancing right, drawing drapery from shoulder and holding palm. RIC II 779. VF, river patina, a little porous.
  4. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-39624 Hadrian Sestertius, Rome Mint 134-138 AD Obverse: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP, Laureate head right  Reverse: SC, Nemesis (Of Victory) advancing right with branch, pulling out the top of her dress. 30mm, 24.9gm RIC 779d: Cohen 1372 Some smoothing in the fields.
  5. http://www.dirtyoldcoins.com/roman/id/had/had150.jpg RIC 779d, C 1374 Sestertius Obv: HADRIANVSAVGCOSIIIPP - Laureate head right. Rev: No legend - Nemesis advancing left, palm and pulling out the drapery at her shoulder.
  6. http://www.imperialcoins.com/itemdetail.asp?type=S&item=4187 IAD 117-138 Metal : Orichalcum Denomination : Sestertius Date Struck : AD 134-138 Diameter : 29 mm Weight : 20.36 g Obverse Legend : HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP Obverse Description :  Laureate head right Reverse Legend :  SC Reverse Description :  Nemesis advancing right holding, palm and pulling out the drapery at her shoulder Mint :  Rome Primary Reference :  RIC 779 Reference2 :  Cohen 1372.
  7. http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-42937 117-138 AD - HADRIAN AE sestertius - struck 134-138 AD obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III PP (laureate head right) rev: - (Nemesis standing right, holding fold of dress with right hand and branch pointed downward in left), S-C across field ref: RIC II 779b (S), C.1372 (12frcs), BMCRE 1549 mint: Rome 20.57gms, 30mm Scarce A nice and scarce Hadrian bronze. This coin shows the original condition with original patina, there’s no corrections or special matters for sharping, and better in hand than the picture allows.
  8. http://www.artcoinsroma.it/eng/auction/view/102/314 Lot 314: Hadrian (117-138), Sestertius,Rome, AD 134-138, AE, (g 25,75, mm 31, h 6). Laureate head r., Rv. Winged Nemesis r.. RIC 779; C 1374. Scarce. Dark patina. Good very fine. Estimate € 170 Opening price € 119 Current bid € 151 foto314d.
  9. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=67964 116, Lot: 274. Estimate $200. Sold for $280. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. HADRIAN. 117-138 AD. Æ Sestertius (32mm, 26.94 g). Struck circa 134-138 AD. Laureate head right / Nemesis walking right holding palm branch. RIC II 779; BMCRE 1549; Cohen 1374. Near VF, grenish-brown patina. From the Tony Hardy Collection.
  10. http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/romanumismatics/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=8081 Hadrian AE Sestertius. HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, laureate head right / S-C, Pax-Nemesis advancing right, holding out fold of dress in apotropaic gesture & holding olive branch. RIC 779. 21.90g 30mm FINE - GOOD FINE This issue probably refers to the defeat of the Bar Kochba revolt. Price £ 115.00  US$ 185.25 € 143.49 AUD$ 177.31 CHF 174.05 CAD$ 180.78 Rates for 9/14/2012.
  11. http://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot?id=64901 Lot 3590 HADRIAN, (A.D. 117-138), AE sestertius, Rome mint, issued A.D. 134-138, (20.8 grams), obv. laureate head of Hadrian to right, around HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, rev. Nemesis winged advancing to right, holding branch, S C across field, (S.-, RIC 779, C.1372). Good very fine and rare. Estimate $600 SOLD $400.
  12. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=132836 Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 613. Estimate $1000. Closing Date: Monday, 5 January 2009. Sold For $1800. dress with right hand and branch pointed downward in left. RIC II 779; Strack 704; Banti 720; BMCRE 1549. Good VF, brown patina, short edge split.
  13. http://www.vauctions.com/auctions/APViewArchiveItem.asp?ID=11999 Lot 283.  HADRIAN (117-138). Sestertius. Rome. Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P. Laureate head right. Rev: S-C. Winged Nemesis standing right, holding branch in left and fold of dress with right hand. RIC 779. Condition: Very Fine. Weight: 25.1 gm. Diameter: 32 mm. Estimate: US$ 105.00.
  14. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=85247 Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 1479. Estimate $300. Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006. Sold For $360. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Sestertius (20.09 g, 6h). Struck circa AD 134-138. Laureate head right / Nemesis advancing right, holding fold of dress and branch. RIC II 779; Banti 720. VF, river patina, mild roughness. Struck from artistically engraved dies.
  15. v. link Hadrian; 117-138 AD. Rome, c. 131-8 AD. Sestertius, 23.38g. BM-1552 note, C-1374 (12 Fr.), RIC-779 var. Obv: HADRIANVS - AVG COS III P P Head laureate r. Rx: S - C across field, Victory-Nemesis advancing r. drawing out fold of dress from breast and holding branch. Ex R. Johnson stock, London, 28 April 1997.Green patination. Some people feel this issue is related to the victory of the Romans in the Jewish WarVF Estimate: $800.
  16. http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/vaughncoins/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=2392 Hadrian 117-138 AD. AE Sestertius. Victory over Bar Kochba revolt. RIC 779 (s) Scarce Hadrian 117-138 AD AE Sestertius (29 mm ; 20.36 gm) Rome 136 AD Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P ; Laureate head right. Rev:  S-C ; Nemesis advancing right, drawing out fold of dress in apotropaic gesture  pointing downward with palm branch in left hand. RIC II  779 (s) Scarce ; Sear II 3646 This issue most likely refers to the defeat of the Bar Kochba revolt. Price   US$ 157.00   € 121.61  £ 97.47  AUD$ 150.27 CHF 147.51 CAD$ 153.22 Rates for 9/14/2012.
Concludo osservando che, per quanto consentito da un esame a distanza, le caratteristiche generali e di stile della moneta non differiscono da quelle dei conȋ autentici del periodo.

Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio
 
 

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Note:
(1) Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche dei sesterzi della tipologia di figura presenti nei link di cui sopra:

Riferimenti Peso (g.)  Diametro (mm) Asse di conio (h)
Link1 26,29 31,43 -
Link2 26,3 - -
Link3 26,24 30 -
Link4 24,9 30 -
Link6 20,36 29 -
Link7 20,57 30 -
Link8 25,75 31 6
Link9 26,94 32 -
Link10 21,90 30 -
Link11 20,8 - -
Link13 25,1 32 -
Link14 20,09 - 6
Link15 20,36 - -
Link16 23,38 29 -
Dalla tabella si evince che le caratteristiche fisiche del sesterzio di figura (25,4g, 30mm, 6h) non si differenziano da quelle delle monete i cui link sono sopra riportati.
(2) Per la tipologia monetale di figura il RIC distingue tra Adriano a capo scoperto come in figura (RIC 779a) e Adriano laureato (RIC 779d). Al tipo RIC 779a, il più raro dei due, appartengono le monete dei primi tre link sopra indicati.
(3) HADRIANVS AVGustus COnSul III Pater Patriae. Per una sintesi storica relativa a questo sovrano si rimanda al sito, http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriano_%28imperatore%29.
(4) Nemesis, la Vittoria, allude al trionfo delle armi romane e alla repressione della rivolta di Bar Kokhba (v. link). Il ramo d'ulivo simboleggia la Pax Romana.
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