Sale: CNG 63, Lot: 1328. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 21 May 2003.  Sold For $240. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

HADRIAN. 117-138 AD. Æ As (10.55 gm). Struck 118 AD. IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG, laureate bust right, drapery on left shoulder / PONT MAX TR POT COS II, S C across field, legionary eagle between two standards. RIC II 546b var. (obv. legend); Strack 518; Cohen 1182 var. (same). VF, green patina. Rare mule. ($200)

Known coins with this reverse bear the obverse legend IMP CAES DIVI TRA PARTH F DIVI NER NEP TRAIANO HADRIANO AVG, a carryover from 117 AD. As these coins bear COS II in their reverse legend, this obverse legend was in use into early 118 AD. Shortly thereafter, however, this obverse legend was replaced with IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG, as in our example. As such, this coin is certainly a mule of an old reverse die being paired with a new obverse die during the transition to the new legends in early 118.