Most ancient coin collectors are familiar with the Roman issues of Alexandria. In this provincial capital, the emperors struck chalkoi to drachms in bronze, and tetradrachms in silver or billon, with tetradrachms produced until the reign of Diocletian. Production of the bronze denominations dropped off dramatically during the second century. And yet, papyri continued to record the use of these small coins. It is apparent that locally issued lead coins took their place. The first I have to show is from Antinoöpolis, the city founded by Hadrian on the spot of Antinoös' drowning. Dealers sometimes date these to the life of Antinoös but the RY 2 date obviously precludes this chronology. EGYPT, Antinoöpolis Late 2nd-3rd century AD PB Tessera (23mm, 5.21 g, 1 h) [Dated RY 2 of an uncertain era?] Draped bust of Antinoös right, wearing hem-hem crown; crescent before, [Θω behind] Nike advancing left, holding palm frond and wreath; L [B flanking?] Milne -; Dattari (Savio) 11655; Köln 3560 var. (size) Aproditopolis was a town in Upper Egypt. EGYPT, Aphroditopolis PB Tessera (13mm, 1.78 g) Eros standing left, stooping over bird to left Head of hippocamp right (or swan right?) Milne 5325-9; Dattari (Savio) 11856-7; Köln -; Rostowzew & Prou 714 (dolphin) The reverse type here more closely resembles a swan than it does a hippocamp. While the swan is a symbol of Aphrodite, Dattari (Savio) 11857 clearly shows the head a hippocamp. It is possible that these are two distinct types. Arsinoe, located between Lake Meroe and the Nile, was a major cult center and home to the temple of the crocodile god Sobek. While it was the capital of the Arsinoe nome, this piece clearly demonstrates that the lead tesserae were issued by the cities, not the nomes, as many assume. The specimen below is undoubtedly the finest known and is arguably the best piece in my collection. EGYPT, Arsinoe (Krokodilopolis) PB Tessera (25mm, 5.65 g, 12 h) Head of pharoah right, wearing nemes crown; papyrus branch before ΠΟΛЄωC ΑΡCЄΝΟЄΙΤωΝ (retrograde) Sobek (crocodile) right on a pedestal, solar disk above; all within laurel wreath tied at the bottom Milne -; Dattari (Savio) 6423; Köln 3495 Ex Elsen 58 (12 June 1999), lot 1634 I'll continue later this week. If anyone has any other NON-ALEXANDRIAN provincial coins of Roman Egypt, I'd love for you to share them in this thread!
Now these are interesting coins and good background to go along with them. But I have to report I do not have any from these or other Egyptian cities other than Alexandria
That's some fascinating and obscure stuff. I can't even find any non-Alexandrian coinage to acquire, if I wanted to.
The next city on our list is Athribis, nome capital and important city in the Nile delta. When I first cataloged this coin for the auction, I was under some time constraints and wasn't able to puzzle out the nearly-obliterated legend. Further review concluded that the earlier attribution to Memphis was incorrect. Though I am normally hesitant to use the appellation, this coin is completely unique - these types are unknown in the entire corpus of Romano-Egyptian tesserae, although one other issue of the city is recorded. EGYPT, Athribis PB Tessera (24mm, 5.17 g, 12h). Tyche reclining left on lectisternium, holding rudder in outstretched right hand and resting head on raised left set on pillow; A[Θ]PIIC/ [ΠOΛ]OI above Nike standing right, holding palm frond and presenting wreath to Serapis standing left, holding long scepter in left hand and raising right hand Milne -; Dattari (Savio) -; Köln - Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 274, lot 288 (there as Memphis). Next is Herakleopolis Magnia, which was capital of Egypt during the 9th and 10th dynasties, but by the Roman period was significantly less important. The city was home to a temple of Heryshaf, who is seen on this coin syncretized with the Greek Herakles. The site was excavated by the great Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie, who himself collected lead tesserae and owned numerous specimens of this type. EGYPT, Herakleopolis PB Tessera (19mm, 3.25 g) Herakles-Heryshaf standing left, resting inverted spear on ground; in right hand, Nike flying right, holding wreath Nike flying left, holding palm frond and wreath Milne 5335-6; Dattari (Savio) 6540; Köln 3605-6 The final city we'll be visiting today is Koptos. This token bears an interesting type: the god Harpokrates raising a finger to his lips, as if signifying a whisper. EGYPT, Koptos PB Tessera (13mm, 1.88 g) Head of Harpokrates facing slightly right, wearing skhent crown and raising index finger to lip; behind, cornucopia Stag standing right Milne 5354-8; Dattari (Savio) 11870, 11872; Köln -
Alas, none are new. I haven't had any opportunities to buy Egyptian pieces lately. I just wanted to play with 'em a bit!
Got both for one increment above my minimum. And I can sell the two or three seals to recoup some of the cost.
Wow, those are absolutely amazing coins my CNG friend ... I "love" your big third coin (Sobek (crocodile) right on a pedestal) => full-points for all of 'em!! :thumb:
Sobek, Goddess of Crocodiles Patron of the Royal Army of Egypt... Interesting minor goddess, cool coin too!
I was reminded today that I failed to complete our tour of Egypt. So here are a few more. We begin with Memphis, an extremely important city in Pharaonic Egypt that maintained some of its prosperity into Roman times, as evidenced by this issue. This type is also notable for being the first named lead discovered, thereby demonstrating that these did not all originate in Alexandria. EGYPT, Memphis PB Tessera (24mm, 5.76 g, 11 h) Nilus reclining left on hippopotamus, holding cornucopia and reeds, being crowned by Euthenia advancing right Isis-Hekate triformis standing facing, holding uraeus and resting arm on Apis bull standing left with solar disk between horns; to left, small figure standing right; MEMΦIC to right Milne 5279; Dattari (Savio) 6419; Köln 3501 The penultimate city on our journey is perhaps the most important. Oxyrhynchus is significant for it's extremely productive middens, from which have been excavated innumerable ancient papyrus texts. It is perhaps because of this archaeological attention that so many tokens are known in quantity from this location. Though I have not been able to piece out the order or relationships between the types, I suspect that there will be found three or four separate issues in multiple denominations. I show below one of my finest specimens. Six others are illustrated in my gallery. EGYPT, Oxyrhynchus PB Tessera (21mm, 10.52 g, 2h) Draped bust of Athena right, wearing Corinthian helm and aegis Athena flying left on globe, holding wreath and palm frond over shoulder Milne 5291; Dattari (Savio) 11817 (same dies); Köln 3509-17 var. (no letters, no globe) We end with a humble piece from Ptolemais Hermiou. EGYPT, Ptolemais Hermiou PB Tessera (16mm, 3.23 g, 9 h) Head of horse right Forepart of bull right Milne 5374-6; Dattari (Savio) 11876-8; Köln -
Wow A you get a AAA+ great info, never seen any of these before, i don't know how i missed the beginning of this thread..very interesting..:thumb:
