Let A be an algebra with involution * over a field F of characteristic zero
and Id(A, *) the ideal of the free algebra with involution of *-identities
of A. By means of the representation theory of the hyperoctahedral group Z
(2)wrS(n) we give a characterization of Id(A, *) in case the sequence of it
s *-codimensions is polynomially bounded. We also exhibit an algebra G(2) w
ith the following distinguished property: the sequence of *-codimensions of
Id(G(2),*) is not polynomially bounded but the *-codimensions of any T-ide
al U properly containing Id(G(2), *) are polynomially bounded.