Hadrian, 117-138. Denarius (Subaeratus, 19 mm, 2.78 g, 6 h), uncertain mint in the East, circa 125-128. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. COS III Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, wings spread and head turned to left. BMC -. CBN -. Cohen -. RIC -. RIC II, Part 3, -. Apparently unpublished. Beautifully toned. Slightly porous and with minor breaks in plating, otherwise, about extremely fine.



In recent years, several fourrée (plated) denarii of Hadrian have come to light which, on stylistic grounds, can be confidently attributed to one of the emperor’s unidentified eastern mints (e.g., Leu Web Auction 24 (2022), lot 2817; Leu Web Auction 26 (2023), lots 3038, 3042, 3043, 3091, 3093, 3100, and 4412). These are therefore not contemporary forgeries but official issues. The same applies to the present specimen, newly surfaced and previously unpublished apart from its earlier auction appearance, with a fine portrait and a splendid eagle.