Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Triton XIX Sessions 1 & 2 5 January 2016
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Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Medallion (40mm, 41.69 g, 12h). Rome mint. Struck circa AD 128-132. HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P, laureate bust right, slight drapery / IOVI/ OPTIMO/ MAXIMO/ S P Q R in four lines within oak wreath; [COS III] in exergue. Gnecchi III 80, pl. 145, 4; Banti 459; RIC II 971c; Strack 452α2; BMCRE p. 447, note *. Good VF, brown and dark gray patina, some roughness in spots, edge splits. Of the greatest rarity and interest.
Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XVIII (1 April 1987), lot 478.
All the references cited are quoting the Paris specimen, which seems to share an obverse die with this medallion. The reverse die appears to be the same as Gnecchi pl. 145, 5. The NFA catalog notes: Of this type Harold Mattingly writes in the Introduction to the British Museum Catalogue (p. clxix) 'The oak-wreath dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus may be connected with the bestowal of the title of P P on Hadrian. To the Greek world Hadrian appeared as a Zeus Olympios...The dediction may be one of thankfulness to the god who, for the blessing of Rome, had bestowed his scepter on Hadrian."
Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XVIII (1 April 1987), lot 478.
All the references cited are quoting the Paris specimen, which seems to share an obverse die with this medallion. The reverse die appears to be the same as Gnecchi pl. 145, 5. The NFA catalog notes: Of this type Harold Mattingly writes in the Introduction to the British Museum Catalogue (p. clxix) 'The oak-wreath dedicated to Jupiter Optimus Maximus may be connected with the bestowal of the title of P P on Hadrian. To the Greek world Hadrian appeared as a Zeus Olympios...The dediction may be one of thankfulness to the god who, for the blessing of Rome, had bestowed his scepter on Hadrian."