Hadrianvs denarius - to good to be true

[Dean B2]

It looks to good to be true ?!
Strange reverse - Crescent with star above - not R200c or R200v,so what is it?

[marandnumiz]

I think it is an authentic, nice denarius. It is clearly RIC 200 (old volume II). Somebody with new RIC II could be in a better position to find the full atribution.

[commodus]

I agree. Genuine and very lovely.
Not too good to be true at all!
It isn't that unusual to find genuine pieces, particularly denarii, in very high grade, such as this is.

[Dean B2]

So,after 94 views and 2 opinions we can officialy declare it genuine R200.
Thx.Regards

[JaniO]

Why not RIC 201? "as no 200 but GLOBE in exergue".
(dot = globe?)

[JaniO]

Does anybody know has it some astrological meaning? Astronomical conjunction of globe, crescent/moon and star?

[Dean B2]

Does anybody know has it some astrological meaning? Astronomical conjunction of globe, crescent/moon and star?

These symbols appear long before Hadrian.Can be found on the coins of the other Roman rulers. Symbols goes back at the time of the Neolithic.

[Rich Beale]

It's always saddening when someone thinks of a coin to be 'too good to be true'. There aren't that many convincing fakes out there.

If it were this attractive and priced at $2.. THEN it would be too good to be true!

In any case, this is a lovely piece and worthy of any collection.

[Dean B2]

It's always saddening when someone thinks ...

So what is the meaning of the forum
Ask someone who has no doubts 

[Rich Beale]

It's always saddening when someone thinks ...

So what is the meaning of the forum
Ask someone who has no doubts 

My point is that it is a shame that people believe there are so many fakes out there that they start doubting good coins simply because of their above average condition.

It certainly isn't sad when someone is doing some thinking!

[curtislclay]

The image is not entirely convincing to me. I find the shiny surfaces odd, and the lettering is a little cruder than I expect from the mint of Rome. Not a coin that I could approve without seeing it in hand.

Where did the coin come from: a reliable or a doubtful source?

[joeparisi]

The reverse gave me the feeling that Curtis displays.

[Galaxy]

I like irony.

[gavignano]

its a spot on portrait style, and nice high relief, but after thinking about Curtis's observation about the obverse lettering, it is quite crude, lacking  distinctive serifs or the type of look we would typically expect from Rome (the second A of Hadrianvs is really odd).
There is no reason to assume the same person cut the legend as created the portrait, but that must have been quite the newbie on the lettering, if it is by ancient hands.

[marandnumiz]

If not authentic, that would be a very sophisticated forgery. The most convincing detail for me is the letter C on the reverse - it appears that the original die had to be recut at some point during its lifetime to reenhance filled in depressions - a feature that could be seen frequently on Hadrian's denarii. That could also perhaps explain somewhat crude letters noticeable on the obverse.

[Dean B2]

Where did the coin come from: a reliable or a doubtful source?

No idea,I have only seen it in high resolution photo,not in my hand!
That's why I am asking for second opinion.
Regards

[curtislclay]

Where did the coin come from: a reliable or a doubtful source?

No idea,I have only seen it in high resolution photo, not in my hand!

So is it an image of a coin being offered on eBay? Is the seller a reliable seller of ancient coins, a notorious seller of fakes, or an unknown? Does he say where he got the coin?

[Dean B2]

Where did the coin come from: a reliable or a doubtful source?

No idea,I have only seen it in high resolution photo, not in my hand!

So is it an image of a coin being offered on eBay? Is the seller a reliable seller of ancient coins, a notorious seller of fakes, or an unknown? Does he say where he got the coin?

Has nothing to do with ebay. I have no reason to doubt the owner of a coin and I have not even sent him an offer.I simply ask for advice and help in determining the authenticity and reference of this coin.
I thank everyone for the advice,I will bring a conclusion based on previous opinions post by forvm members.
Regards

[curtislclay]

Has nothing to do with ebay. I have no reason to doubt the owner of a coin

OK, but what sort of person is the owner of the coin, and what does he claim about where he got it? Provenance can be an essential criterion in any determination of authenticity!

This is a known denarius, by the way: Cohen 462, bust variant of BM 460, pl. 55.15.

The globe in exergue is a symbol placed on ALL of the reverse types then being struck, so it has no relationship to the crescent and star shown by this particular type. It's merely a symbol, not part of the type.

[Holding_History]

It's always saddening when someone thinks of a coin to be 'too good to be true'. There aren't that many convincing fakes out there.

If it were this attractive and priced at $2.. THEN it would be too good to be true!

In any case, this is a lovely piece and worthy of any collection.

It would be too good to be true to find this one at more like $25!!!