From the Gemini IV Auction, Closed January 8, 2008.



                  Lot # 424 - Auction is closed.Estimate: US$35000 / Price 
                  Realized: US$32500 
                  Hadrian and Divus Trajan. Gold aureus 



             



            Hadrian and Divus Trajan. (117-138 AD). Gold aureus (7.43 gm). Rome, 
            117 AD. IMP CAES TRAIAN HADRIAN OPT AVG GER D PART, bust of Hadrian 
            laureate, cuirassed right, seen from front, with fold of cloak on 
            left shoulder and sword belt over right shoulder and descending 
            diagonally across the cuirass / DIVO TRAIANO—PATRI AVG, bust of 
            Divus Traianus laureate, draped, cuirassed right, seen from behind. 
            Strack 11. Calico 1411 (same obverse die). BMCRE 45 note. RIC 24c 
            (R2). Cohen 1 (300 Fr.) var. Exceptionally high quality for this 
            issue. Virtually mint state. 

            Ex Hess-Leu 45, 12-13 May 1970, lot 516; ex Bank Leu / MMAG Basel, 
            2-3 November 1967, Niggeler Collection Part 3, lot 1240; ex Helbing, 
            April 1931, lot 691. 

            This is one of the earlier aurei that Hadrian struck for himself and 
            his deified father Trajan, since it still gives Hadrian the titles 
            of Trajan, Optimus and Parthicus, which the Senate had accorded to 
            Hadrian too but which he did not want and would omit from his next 
            issue. This obverse die has a rare variant form of Hadrian’s 
            titulature, with GER written in place of the normal G. It has not 
            been observed before that Hadrian’s legend on this obverse die has 
            also been re-engraved: it originally called Hadrian GER DAC PART, 
            but this was then shortened to merely GER D PART. Traces of the 
            original reading are still clearly visible beneath the correction, 
            in particular a partially eradicated T which seems to make the 
            legend end PARTT instead of the intended PART. 




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  ... Lot 424 sold for high bid of $32500 [ $37375, or approx 25788.75 EUR, 19061.25 GBP including the 15% buyers fee.] 

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