Gemini III, January 9th, 2007



                  Lot # 368 - Auction is closed.Estimate: US$15000 / Price 
                  Realized: US$9000 
                  Hadrian. Framed sestertius-sized medallion in orichalcum, 
                  diameter with frame 46 mm 



             



            Hadrian. (117-138 AD). Framed sestertius-sized medallion in 
            orichalcum, diameter with frame 46 mm (76.00 gm). Rome, c. 123-128 
            AD. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate bust right, fold of cloak on front 
            shoulder and around neck at back / COS III in exergue, eagle 
            standing left, head right, on thunderbolt, between owl perched right 
            on shield and peacock in splendor, standing left on scepter. Gnecchi 
            64 (three specimens, none framed). Cohen 431 (not framed, 100 Fr.). 
            Apparently this is the only time this medallion has been encountered 
            in a frame of this type. Some contact marks on reverse. Pleasant 
            very fine. 

            The three birds are those of the Capitoline Triad; Jupiter (eagle), 
            Juno (peacock), and Minerva (owl). Bronze medallions, introduced 
            under Trajan, were at first struck only on ordinary sestertius and 
            middle-bronze flans. Our piece accordingly has been made from 
            sestertius-size dies, but its oversized flan foreshadows the 
            introduction of proper large-size bronze medallions later in 
            Hadrian’s reign. The flan is formed of a single piece of orichalcum; 
            the frame is not a separate piece added later to a medallion struck 
            in sestertius size. The frame is marked with two circular grooves, 
            an inner one enclosing the types and an outer one near the edge, as 
            on the later contorniates. The edge is decorated with two further 
            circular grooves, giving this medallion a finished regularity that 
            is seldom encountered on ancient coins. 




      © 2006 Gemini, LLC | Email: info@geminiauction.com

  ... Lot 368 sold for high bid of $9000 [ $10350, or approx 8000.55 EUR, 5278.5 GBP including the 15% buyers fee.] 


Re-used by permission of Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com) and
                         Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com)