<— Last coin | ---------- What I Like About Ancient Coins ---------- | Next coin —> |
Coin Type: Bronze drachm of Antoninus Pius, Caesar 138 CE, Augustus 138-161 CE Mint and Date: Alexandria, 148 - 149 CE. Size and Weight: 30mm x 32mm, 16.32g Obverse: AYT K T AIΛ AΔP ANTΩNINOC CEB EYC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: ΔΩΔE-KAT Isis Pharia advancing right, holding inflated sail in both hands and Sistrum in right hand, the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria before. Exergue: L OY Provenance: mrniceguys (eBay), October 2007 Ref: RCV (2002) 4438; Milne 2005. BW Ref: 022 035 116 |
|
Click on the picture for a larger scale view of the coin | |
Note 1: The reverse legend begins and ends in the exergue space. Combined, it reads L ΔΩΔEKATOY, meaning "of the twelfth year." Presumably it has been spaced this way to fit in with the reverse type, which must have been engraved first. Note 2: In weight, this coin is halfway between a drachm and a hemidrachm. The Pharos is not known to appear on a hemidrachm, so this must be an unusually light drachm. Note 3: The full description of the Pharos as shown here, taken from Milne, is: "Pharos as square tower seen at angle, with door [part way up] near side approached by stair, and on top lantern flanked by two tritons outwards blowing horns and surmounted by statue with pendent object in r. hand, staff in l." The door and stairs are clear on this coin, but only the outlines of the lantern and statues remain. |
The content of this page was last updated on 16 August 2009 |