Hadrian Griffin Semis/small module As

[Gunner]

This arrived in the mail today. Pretty cool coin! ...very rare too! =)

Hadrian Brass As. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS, laureate draped bust right / COS III S C, Griffin seated left. Cohen 435.


Sear calls it a "Small Module As" I think. Any difference from a "Semis"?


Gunner

[areich]

A great coin, congratulations!

[peterpil19]

Very impressive! Especially considering relative scarcity of good quality quadrans...

Peter

[marcus flavius]

Really unique reverse (other than Gallienus), I can't think of it being used too often. Not too sure of the denomination. I have an As of this Hadrian with Dacia on the reverse and it appears to have more heft than yours. Nice find and have'nt seen it forsale in my searches.
Vincent

[Gunner]

Thanks for the comments all. The only example I could find was on Wildwinds.com. Barry M. stated that he's only seen a few of these.

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s3697.html

The example on wildwinds sold for quite a hefty price.

Gunner

[marcus flavius]

Wow, Gunner, what a price that one sold for shown on wildwinds! $750.00
I like the hunt also and found a few; Ae3 Rome Mint of Constantine II "VIC CONSTANTINUS PF AVG' obverse legend and "VIRTVS AVGVSTI" Emperor stg holds shield with R heart P mintmark. Got it for $5.00 plus postage (sorry Taxomorph)
Also, a lot of coins that had a 1/4 follis of Maxentius (VOT QQ MVLT X rev), Cententionalis of Decentius minted in Rome and Constantine Sol coin of Ticinum with cross in field all for $18.00 and in collectable condition.
I can go on, but without pictures it will get boring, sorry.
Finds are out there, but one has to pay the price in time of searching. It can be fun and frustrating. If I see a coin on a dealer's table or website that I really need (must have), I grab it. One may NEVER see it again.
Happy hunting Gunner
Vincent

[AncientDave]

That is one neat coin. I have seen alot of Hadrian Asses, but never one of these. You say it's a small module As, I have seen a few of these for Hadrian. If I may ask, what is it's diameter? I guess that's what I would use to categorize it's denomination. Again, nice find!

[Gunner]

That is one neat coin. I have seen alot of Hadrian Asses, but never one of these. You say it's a small module As, I have seen a few of these for Hadrian. If I may ask, what is it's diameter? I guess that's what I would use to categorize it's denomination. Again, nice find!

Hi and thanks for the reply!

Yes, Sear quotes this coin as a "Small Module As"..I think..don't have my reference with me. It is about 20 mm in size and weighs 7.77 Grams. I would consider it more a Semis; however, I am not that familiar with the "Semis" Denomination. I do know that I like Griffin's though =)


Gunner

[bpmurphy]

Gunner,

This is an As not a semis. It is struck in orichalcum instead of the usual copper. Four types are known: Griffin, Lyre, Roma seated left on cuirass, and Tyche seated left on a rock with a river-god swimming below. For each type there is an As issue (averaging around 8.4 grams) and a Semis issue (averaging around 4.2 grams).

These were struck in Rome for use in the east. The high number of these found in the excavations in Antioch suggests that they circulated in Antioch. In Waage's report on the coins from Antioch, 8 of the 14 Aes issues of Hadrian were of these types. A lyre As and Semis were also found in the excavations in Dura.

Similar orichalcum issues are known for Vespasian and Trajan. The issues of Hadrian are the last for use in Antioch, but there is an issue of orichalcum AE's struck by Marcus Aurelius, most likely for use in Cyrene.

One of the first studies of these coins was Grant's "Asses of Orichalcum" published in the ANS's Centennial Publication (1958). The types will also be included in the forthcoming work by Richard McAlee on the Roman coinage of Antioch (from where most of the information in this post originates).

Barry Murphy

[Gunner]

Gunner,

This is an As not a semis. It is struck in orichalcum instead of the usual copper. Four types are known: Griffin, Lyre, Roma seated left on cuirass, and Tyche seated left on a rock with a river-god swimming below. For each type there is an As issue (averaging around 8.4 grams) and a Semis issue (averaging around 4.2 grams).

These were struck in Rome for use in the east. The high number of these found in the excavations in Antioch suggests that they circulated in Antioch. In Waage's report on the coins from Antioch, 8 of the 14 Aes issues of Hadrian were of these types. A lyre As and Semis were also found in the excavations in Dura.

Similar orichalcum issues are known for Vespasian and Trajan. The issues of Hadrian are the last for use in Antioch, but there is an issue of orichalcum AE's struck by Marcus Aurelius, most likely for use in Cyrene.

One of the first studies of these coins was Grant's "Asses of Orichalcum" published in the ANS's Centennial Publication (1958). The types will also be included in the forthcoming work by Richard McAlee on the Roman coinage of Antioch (from where most of the information in this post originates).

Barry Murphy

Thanks for the insight Barry! Do you have a theory as to why these are so "small" for the issue?

Gunner

[AncientDave]

Hey Gunner, check this out. I just picked up this baby on ebay, and lo and behold, it's the one on Wildwinds! Compare the images and let me know what you think, they sure look like the same coin to me.


http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sear5/s3697.html

[4to2centophilia]

Undoubtedly the same coin.

[Gunner]

NICE!!!! I compared the ww coin to my coin and the reverse is not a die match. Check out the wings on the griffin. You'll see they are different with respect to the vertical spread between the two of them. I do think you have acquired the ww coin. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you score it for? I know it sold a while back for 750.00. Great snag! =)... I'll compare the obverses tonight. Do you have the coin in-hand yet?

Gunner

[Gunner]

Looks like the obverses are different between your coin and mine. When you get a chance, can you grab a weight on your coin? I'd like to compare the two weight-wise.

Gunner

[AncientDave]

I do not yet have the coin in hand, but I too noticed the reverse die differences between the two coins. I am happy to report that I scored this coin for $88.00, which certainly seemed like a bargain. I have been collecting Hadrian for years, and had never seen this coin until you posted yours, so thank you for the oh so timely heads up. This kind of stuff is what I enjoy most about this hobby, learning and sharing information. ;):D

[AncientDave]

Weight: 8.3 grams

Diameter: 22 mm

[Gunner]

WOW NICE BARGAIN!!!! That is one of my favorite aspects of the hobby....finding rare coins and getting them at awesome prices. The coin certainly is rare as Barry has only seen a few of them. I wonder why they are so rare. Your coin and Mine are the only two examples I've seen and I have searched the web extensively for them. Great job! =)

Gunner

[Gunner]

Weight: 8.3 grams

Diameter: 22 mm


Thanks! Mine is about the same diameter and the weight is 7.77 grams.

Gunner

[4to2centophilia]

EDited for a reason

Amazing.

[AncientDave]

How in heaven did you get a coin for $88 that sotheby had at $750??

Amazing.


It is pretty puzzling and neat, but if you notice in the text of the sotheby auction the coin was attributed to be a semis, which may be much rarer than our small module As. Maybe someone with extensive knowledge like Barry or Curtis can give us some insight as to the relative rarity between the small As and the semis of this type. As for the price, I just found the coin on ebay and kept my fingers crossed. It had one bid at the beginning price which was high for a starting price ($75), and I think that the high starting price may have turned off some bidders. I think this instance may be proof that there is a certain peculiar psychology to auctions that can work in your favor given the right conditions, or maybe I just got lucky. Who can say? I did not bid until the last minute, and fully expected to get auto-sniped, but somehow did not. I take that to mean that we belong together. :D

[4to2centophilia]

Sent you a private message.

[Roma_Orbis]

Gunner,

This is an As not a semis. It is struck in orichalcum instead of the usual copper. Four types are known: Griffin, Lyre, Roma seated left on cuirass, and Tyche seated left on a rock with a river-god swimming below. For each type there is an As issue (averaging around 8.4 grams) and a Semis issue (averaging around 4.2 grams).

These were struck in Rome for use in the east. The high number of these found in the excavations in Antioch suggests that they circulated in Antioch. In Waage's report on the coins from Antioch, 8 of the 14 Aes issues of Hadrian were of these types. A lyre As and Semis were also found in the excavations in Dura.

Similar orichalcum issues are known for Vespasian and Trajan. The issues of Hadrian are the last for use in Antioch, but there is an issue of orichalcum AE's struck by Marcus Aurelius, most likely for use in Cyrene.

One of the first studies of these coins was Grant's "Asses of Orichalcum" published in the ANS's Centennial Publication (1958). The types will also be included in the forthcoming work by Richard McAlee on the Roman coinage of Antioch (from where most of the information in this post originates).

Barry Murphy

Barry/Curtis,

I am very interested in these Rome issues for the East; interestingly some years ago I bought one Hadrian 'Semis' with lyra reverse in Aleppo (northern Syria). I would like to ask 2 questions:

- if these coins were to use in the East, so they belong to the Greek monetary system ?
in that case, they should not be called As/Semis/... but by their Greek name; are the names in the divisionary bronze coinage known? Are they Assaria and fractions of Assaria?

- if some of these coins with SC on the reverse were to be used in Antioch, how to explain that there is a parallel bronze issue with Greek legend/SC reverse for Antioch?

Jérôme

[AncientDave]

Hi All,

Just wanted to give an update, I now have the coin in hand and it is even nicer than the pictures show. It's size is so stangely in between an As and a semis, that I kind of look at it as an exciting new denomination to collect. I christen thee as semAs! :D Anyway, I too am very interested in these issues, as I also have a Hadrian Roma Rev. semis from this series. Does anyone know where I could obtain this "ANS Centennail Publication (1958)" that contains Grant's article, or of any site that has a webpage facsimile? I must know more! :D

Thanks in advance,

Dave