FIGURE RECLINING reverse --------------------------------- Hello again all, I recently purchased this coin, I have not yet weighed it, but it is around 28 mm, and clearly of Emperor Hadrian (117 AD - 138 AD), it is also clearly from Alexandria, Egypt.... is it an Alexandrian AE Drachm? I know not yet what to write for infor to accompany this coin, so any help would be appreciated.... I know some AE Drachmai and other Hadrian Alexandria AE coins can be fairly pricey in high grade, I know this isn't in high grade, just wonderin' what I have. The reclining figure on the reverse almost looks like it/he/she is resting the elbow on the right side of the reverse of the coin on a Sphinx.... but it is too hard to tell for me.... also if there is any date on the reverse (I still haven't learned more than a small ammount of Greek letters/numerals.... the first two characters in exergue on the reverse look kinda like 'Year 4' in Greek, the rest I do not know) Again, any help is appreciated, here is the best pic I have.
That is actually the river god Nilus on the reverse. The letters in the exergue are the date, year 12 of the reign of Hadrian. Should be about the same as this: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=196233
Be sure you read the CNG link explanation for the numeral 16 worn off of your coin. Realize just how important flooding was to Eqypt that made this number significant enough that it was placed on the coins.
Yeah, its a better type that I have been close to buying before just for its interesting reverse. Plus, tie in the fact Hadrian's favorite drowned in the Nile and it makes for an even more interesting story.
Ah yes, of course.... Antinous right? Very interesting story. ---------------------------- Thanks for the info and help everyone, more than I expected, I really appreciate it. SO my coin is a Drachm? The one listed for sale in the link says that that particular one is 34mm, mine is more like 28-29mm..... did they even strike 'half Drachm' bronzes of this type back then? I know very little about provincial bronzes, I tended to focus most of my Ancient Provincial collecting on Silver Drachmai and Tetradrachmai. I got a really good price on this one so I went for it..... I normally don't talk about what I paid or ask others what they paid et cetera.... but in this case I will make an exception.... I paid $25 USD for this coin.... no shipping cost or anything, just $25 straight up. DO you guys think that is a good deal? Did I do good? Looking at the price of the coin linked to by Ardatirion, and it looks like I did okay, of course that coin is in MUCH MUCH better shape and condition, so hard to compare or judge or try to put a price on my example.... I do like the very dark brown patina, and the condition isn't too bad at all. -------------- dougsmit : That info about the numeral 16 on the reverse top is very interesting, shame that it is worn off of mine, but very interesting stuff.... I love learning facts like that about certain coins, thanks for sharing mate! -------------- ************** Okay, now there are some differences between mine and that one linked to of Nilus.... mine doesn't seem to have the crocodile... in fact it appears Nilus is resting his elbow (down where the crocodile head should be on the linked example) on a Sphinx or something... I also do not see the branch to the far far right side of the coin's reverse, like on the one in the link.... and the upper arm that holds the cornucopiae in the link looks a bit different than on mine... Most of these could just be from the wear, however the lack of the crocodile and the elbow resting on what looks like a Sphinx make me wonder..... Anyone care to comment?
I believe $25 was a good price for this coin. Its an interesting reverse, and with Hadrian's tie to the Nile makes it a $25 story to me at least. Like I said, I have been looking to buy one of these just because its an interesting coin, and I do not really collect the series.
But are you certain that it is Nilus on this coin ? I mean it looks very very similar to the one in the link, but I don't see the crocodile, and not just because of wear.... it doesnt appear to be there, and Nilus or whomever is reclining is resting an elbow on something that looks like a lion or a sphinx.... Or did they perhaps mint some with the croc and some with whatever this one has of Nilus? I just want to make sure I have the right info, since I have a Radiat Trajan Tet with Nilus on the reverse that was sold as being Zeus and I thought it was Zeus for a long time, and if not for a small cornucopiae behind his head, I may have never known that it was Nilus and not Zeus..... so little things like that (the things in the backround or what the people/Gods are holding, leaning against etc.) seem to make a significant difference in who that God/Person may be. Just double checking, thanks for the info mate! I will post some new pics when I get a chance to take them, I also bought a cool new 'PAX AUGUSTI' Sestertius of Severus Alexander from the same person I got this Alexandria Bronze Drachm of Hadrian from. The sestertius is not in great shape but a cool coin none the less.... and it was close to the same price as this Hadrian Drachm of Alexandria. The only thing I wish this AE Drachm had, was the Greek numeral '16' on the reverse at 12 o'clock clearly visible. That is some interesting history to go with the coin and time period.
Seems I solved the mystery of why mine looks different than the one linked to on here.... I found an identical one to mine, it sold for $36 USD, but had a scratched and smoothed obv, but a nicer rev, with the numerals at 12 o clock very visible. It has the same Nilus, not lying on a croc though, like mine his body is flat with the ground with his elbow resting on an animal, here is the description: " Reverse: Nilus reclining left, cornucopiae emerging from naval , reed behind,left elbow resting on Hippopotamus, in exergue L ΔWΔΕΚ " A Hippopotamus would have probably been my last guess as to what Nilus was resting his elbow on...... heh, and I thought it might be a Sphinx. Well I like it alot, a nice large bronze for my collection, and my first non-silver Roman coin of Alexandria, Egypt. It has a great color and patina too.
I stand corrected. This is Euthenia and sphinx rather than Nilus who needs a crocodile. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=227540 Other than the listings in catalogs, I don't know how we can tell this is Euthenia but it is nice that you are not missing the 16 after all and have a scarcer type.
My Nilus is worn also but has a large and comfortable crocodile. Alexandrian drachms seem to have circulated for many years and it is common to find them worn slick. Add the fact that the flans were cast in cups so on side (obverse) is much smaller than the other and it very common to find coins with poor legends even if not worn. My Trajan with elephants is about as worn as I can accept happily but the same coin in well struck mint state would be really above my price range.
Beautiful example of Nilus doug.... comfy croc is right heh! the one with the elephants is also beautiful, very cool coins! I didn't know that about the flans.... very interesting. Also, thanks for the correction.... So you do not think it is the one I referred to in my last post? the one of Nilus with a hippo? I don't have an example of a photo of that though..... the one you linked to certainly looks like it.... I wish there wasn't so much wear so I could tell what was in the raised hand.....
This is Nilus with hippo but Trajan. I don't know if Hadrian had a hippo. http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=223555
I know how much everyone hates slabbed Ancients...but the price was right. :devil: I know it's not a drachm, but I like the reverse and I think it is relevant to the post. guy
This is a really nicely toned denarius. Where is the hippo and croc? It s hard to light slabs so you can see the coin.
Quick question for the Ancients here: The Egyptian economy was a closed one. A person needed to exchange his denarii for tetradrahms whenever entering the province of Egypt. I assume that the denarius I presented (with the Latin inscriptions) was not minted in Alexandria. Assuming that this was the case , what would be the purpose of the reverse image of the coin (Nilus) other than to gloat over Egypt's submission? Maybe the economy of Egypt under Hadrian wasn't as closed an economy as it would later become? If the coin were minted in Egypt, maybe it was for exchange outside the Egyptian province? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time. guy
The Nilus and my Alexandria (above) were minted in Rome in recognition of Hadrian's travels around the empire including an extensive stay in Egypt. Some denarii were used in Egypt, probably mostly by the military. Septimius Severus even had a denarius mint in Alexandria but we really do not know how many of the coins made there were used there as opposed to being shipped to other Eastern locations for use as military pay. The matter of Egypt as a closed economy probably varied with time and situation but, usually, Roman denomination coins were not made for local use marked with place names but more to commemorate the fact that the emperor was well travelled. You may want to specialize and buy all of the series.
BEAUTIFUL Hadrian Denarius Bart9349! I am very impressed with that reverse, just gorgeous! Quite a nice pickup, and a great addition to any collection! --~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-- I like the coins that were minted in Rome and celebrated or recognized other provinces and places. I have a nice Silver Denarius of Antoninus Pius with Italia on the reverse and the title 'ITALIA' around, Italia is portrayed seated on a globe holding a sceptre and cornucopia.
