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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Greek Imperial| ▸ |Egypt||View Options:   | | | From Augustus' conquest until Diocletian's monetary reforms, Egypt maintained a separate currency. Hoard evidence indicates that when crossing into Egypt all imperial coinage had to be exchanged for Egyptian and when leaving all Egyptian coinage had to be exchanged for imperial coinage. Coins are dated according to the Egyptian year which began on 29 August, or 30 August following a leap year. The Egyptian tetradrachm was officially valued at one denarius. |
This coin was once part of the Dattari Collection, probably the finest Alexandrian coin collection ever assembled. Giovanni Dattari (1853 - 1923) was a self-taught collector and successful trader of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities. He held a near monopoly in the antiquities trade in Cairo. He also shared his expertise and first-hand knowledge of Egypt with the foremost scholars of his time. Dattari assembled a collection of over 25,000 ancient coins. His 1901 work, Numi Augg. Alexandrini, cataloged 6411 of his coins from Roman Alexandria, and is still a primary reference for the coinage of Roman Egypt. Dattari also made pencil rubbings of more than 13,000 coins from Roman Alexandria in his collection; these were finally published in 2007 by Adriano Savio. In 1920, Dattari donated much of his collection to the Museo Nazionale Romano. After his death, the remainder of his collection was sold.RX113872. Bronze drachm, cf. RPC III 5023, Geissen 760; Dattari 1782; Milne 84; Kampmann-Ganschow 32.49; BMC Alexandria -, F, green patina, light earthen deposits, obv. edge beveled, weight 21.512 g, maximum diameter 33.5 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 117 - 28 Aug 118 A.D.; obverse AYT KAIC TPAIANOC A;ΔPIANOC (or similar, Imperator Caesar Traianus Hadrianus), laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder; reverse Nilus reclining left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, reeds in right hand, left arm resting on crocodile(?) and cornucopia, LB (year 2) in exergue; ex Leu Numismatik auction 26 (8 Jul 2023), lot 7006 (part of); ex Eric ten Brink Collection; ex Naville Numismatics 57 (26 Apr 2020), lot 265 (realized £55 plus fees); $95.00 (€89.30)
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros), 116 - c. 110 B.C.
This is the scarce Kyrene mint version of the very common Svoronos 1426, struck at Alexandria.GP114958. Bronze obol, Asolati 80 (Ptolemy VI-VIII); SNG Cop 455 (as Ptolemy VIII-Ptolemy Apion); Svoronos 1158 (as Ptolemy IV), F, near black patina, earthen deposits, obv. edge beveled, central depressions, weight 6.229 g, maximum diameter 19.8 mm, die axis 0o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, 116 - c. 110 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right; reverse two eagles standing left on fulmen (thunderbolt), heads left, wings closed, silphium plant to left; $90.00 (€84.60)
Trajan, 25 January 98 - 8 or 9 August 117 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
The North African elephant (Loxodonta africana pharaohensis) is an extinct subspecies of the African bush elephant, or possibly a separate elephant species, that existed in North Africa, north of the Sahara, until it died out in Roman times. These were the famous war elephants used by Carthage in the Punic Wars, their conflict with the Roman Republic. Although the subspecies has been formally described, it has not been widely recognized by taxonomists. Other names for this animal include the North African forest elephant, Carthaginian elephant, and Atlas elephant. Originally, its range probably extended across North Africa and down to the present Sudanese and Eritrean coasts.RX111825. Bronze dichalkon, Geissen 460, Dattari 1203, Kampmann 27.51, SNG BnF IV 1036, Emmett 701.7, F, dark green and brown patina, cleaning marks, weight 1.392 g, maximum diameter 13.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 103 - 28 Aug 104 A.D.; obverse no legend, laureate head right; reverse elephant walking right, L Z (year 7) above; ex Classical Numismatic Group e-sale 481 (02 Dec 2020), lot 346; ex Judy Day Frink Collection; $80.00 (€75.20)
Diocletian, 20 November 284 - 1 May 305 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice, and skill. Her usual attribute is the owl and Nike is her frequent companion.RX114200. Billon tetradrachm, RPC Online X U75951 (27 spec.), Dattari-Savio 5626, Emmett 4030; Geissen 3225, Milne 4811, Curtis 1961, SNG Cop 981, BMC Alexandria 2481, aVF, tight, ragged flan with superficial cracking, weight 7.550 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 286 - 28 Aug 287 A.D.; obverse A K Γ OYA ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right, seen from the front; reverse Athena standing slightly right, head left, spear in right hand, resting left hand on grounded shield, LΓ (year 3) in left field; ex Priapus Numismatics e-auction 1 (5 Nov 2023), lot 651; scarce; $80.00 (€75.20)
Maximus, Caesar, 235 or 236 - 24 June 238 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
Handsome and accomplished, but ill mannered, Maximus was declared caesar at eighteen years of age. He became so proud, insolent, and vicious, that he was soon detested as much as his father. After a short time in Rome, he was obliged to join his father in Germany. Betrothed to Junia Fadilla, he was on the verge uniting his barbarian blood to that of the illustrious family of Antoninus Pius, when he was assassinated alongside his father by disgruntled soldiers.RX114957. Billon tetradrachm, RPC Online VI 10722, Dattari-Savio 4630, Geissen 2592, Kampmann-Ganschow 67.18, Milne 3240, Emmett 3324/3 (R4), F, scratches, weight 11.075 g, maximum diameter 22.7 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, as caesar, 236 - 237 A.D.; obverse Γ IOYΛ OYHP MAΞIMOC KAI, bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse Nike advancing left, raising wreath in right hand, palm frond in left hand, L Γ (year 3) lower left; first specimen of the type handled by FORVM, only two sales of this type listed on Coin Archives in the last two decades; rare; $80.00 (€75.20)
Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, 150 - 116 B.C.
Alexander the Great received tribute from the cities of Kyrenaica after he took Egypt. Kyrenaica was annexed by Ptolemy I Soter. It briefly gained independence under Magas of Cyrene, stepson of Ptolemy I, but was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic empire after his death. It was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion, who, dying without heirs in 96 B.C., bequeathed it to the Roman Republic.GP114706. Bronze AE 15, Svoronos 1655, Noeske 291, SNG Cop 658, SNG Milan 402, Malter 247, Weiser -, VF, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, obv edge beveled, weight 2.539 g, maximum diameter 14.9 mm, die axis 0o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, 150 - 116 B.C.; obverse diademed and horned head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse EYEPΓETOY ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left, wings open, grasping fulmen (thunderbolt) in talons; $60.00 (€56.40)
Roman Egypt, Antinoopolites Nome, Portrait of Antinous, c. 130 - 153 A.D.
Antinous probably joined Hadrian's entourage when it passed through Bithynia about 124 A.D. He became Hadrian's constant companion and lover. In October 130 Antinous drowned in the Nile. Hadrian's grief knew no bounds; he enrolled him among the gods, erected a temple, and on 30 October 130, Hadrian founded the city of Antinoopolis on the very bank of the Nile river where Antinous drowned. It was the capital of a new nome, Antinoopolites. Perhaps the date is from the founding of Antinoopolis. There began a Cult of Antinous. Artists vied with each other in immortalizing his beauty. Temples and statues dedicated to him were erected all over the Empire.RX97546. Lead tessera, apparently unpublished, Dattari-Savio -, Geissen -, Milne -, Emmett -, Blum -, SNG Cop -, SNG Milan -, gF, gray-brown patina with highlighting earthen deposits, reverse off center, weight 4.994 g, maximum diameter 23.8 mm, die axis 180o, Antinoopolis(?) mint, c. 130 - 153 A.D.; obverse draped bust of Antinous right, wearing hem-hem crown of Harpocrates, large crescent before with horns left; reverse Nilus reclining right on sphinx, reed in his left hand curling up behind his shoulder and head, cornucopia before him in left hand; Euthenia on right, standing left, crowning Nilus with a wreath; ex Classical Numismatic Group e-auction 476 (9 Sep 2020), lot 287; ex BLS Collection; extremely rare, perhaps unique, this is the only specimen of this type known to FORVM; SOLD
Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
In 62 A.D., Lucan wrote a history of the conflict between Julius Caesar and Pompey.RX86146. Bronze obol, RPC I 5263; Dattari 278/279; Geissen 149; BMC Alexandria 179/180; Milne 207; Kampmann-Ganschow 14.67, F, old scratch on obverse, reverse rough, edge cracks, weight 5.661 g, maximum diameter 20.5 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 29 Aug 61 - 28 Aug 62 A.D.; obverse NER KLAY KAI CEB GEP, laureate head right; reverse AYTO KPAT, Roma standing half left, patera in right hand, shield and spear in left hand, LH (year 8) lower left; rare; SOLD
Philip II, July or August 247 - Late 249 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
In 244, when Philip I the Arab was proclaimed Augustus, he made his son Philippus, age 6, Caesar and heir to the throne. Typical of Roman propaganda, the boy caesar appears much older on this coin.RX62942. Billon tetradrachm, Geissen 2782, Dattari 5049, Milne 857, Curtis 1392, Kampmann-Ganschow 76.1, Emmett 3587, SNG Cop -, gVF, well centered, weight 13.542 g, maximum diameter 24.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, as caesar, 29 Aug 244 - 28 Aug 245; obverse M IOY ΦIΛIΠΠOC K CEB, bare-headed, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse eagle standing left, wings closed, head turned back right, wreath in beak, L - B (year 2 of Philip I) across field; SOLD
Volusian, c. November 251 - July or August 253 A.D., Roman Provincial Egypt
In 252, the Persian Emperor Shapur I invaded Armenia and, taken by surprise, destroyed a large Roman army at Barbalissos. He then invaded the defenceless Syrian provinces, captured all of its legionary posts and ravaged its cities, including Antioch, without any response. In 253, Uranius Antoninus (a priest and descendant of the royal house of Emesa) confronted Sapor and forced him to retreat. Uranius Antoninus also, however, proclaimed himself emperor.SH54364. Billon tetradrachm, Dattari 5124, Milne 3843, Curtis 1474, Emmett 3680, Choice VF, weight 11.688 g, maximum diameter 24.5 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 252 - 253 A.D.; obverse ANT K Γ ANTΦ ΓAΛ B BOΛOYCIANOC EVC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right; reverse laureate bust of Asklepios right, himation on left shoulder, serpent staff before, LΓ (year 3) behind; very rare; SOLD
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