I was fortunate to win this Alexandrian tetradrachm of Hadrian at the Naville Numismatics online auction last week. I purchased this coin for four reasons: firstly, it was relatively inexpensive, secondly - it is published in RPC (https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/63532), thirdly - it has provenance to the illustrious Dattari collection of the late 19th/early 20th century, fourth - it fits with my ancients theme of 'myths, monsters, heroes and villains'. The reverse depicts the so-called Agathodaemon or Agathos Daimon facing right wearing the crown of Egypt. This minor deity played a role in both Ancient Greek and Graceo-Egyptian/Ptolemaic religion as both protector of the household and as civic guardian of Alexandria. Its presence on a coin from there is therefore highly appropriate! Unusually, this coin represents a die variant where the serpent is not enfolding a caduceus and corn-ear. I don't have Dattari-Savio, though apparently it is no. 1531 on plate 71 according to Naville or DS12248/DS7505 according to RPC. At over 14g, it is a pleasingly chunky piece.
I really like these Egypto-Roman coins! here's my example of the same theme, but a diobol with some thick red patina. Hadrian (117-138). Egypt, Alexandria. Æ Diobol - year 14 Serpent Agathodaemon Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r., seen from behind. R/ Serpent Agathodaemon erect r., crowned with pschent, coiled around caduceus on left and grain ears on right; L IΔ (date) in exergue. 24mm, 9.86g
Fantastic addition. Hadrian (117 - 138 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: AYT KAI-TPAI AΔPIA CEB, Laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right, seen from behind. R: L Δ_EK_ATOY Agathodaemon erect right at left, wearing skhent and enfolding caduceus, facing Uraeus erect left at right, wearing disk and horns, enfolding sistrum, their tails knotted together and holding a club erect. Alexandria Mint, 125/126 (Year 10) 10.6g 19.5mm Emmett 804 Dattari 1552; BMC 668; Milne 1164; Curtis 351; Demetrio 1247 Rare The Caluceus refers to Hermanubis, the Sistrum is a symbol for Isis and the Club refers to Harpocrates Antoninus Pius (138 - 161 A.D.) AE diobol EGYPT, Alexandria O:Laureate bust r., drapery on l. shoulder. R: Agathodaemon erect, crowned with skhent; in field, L-IE. issued 151-2 (year 15) 7.45g 23mm RPC Online 15718 (this coin), Dattari-Savio Pl. 162, 3066 (this coin). From the Dattari collection. From the Orfew collection, ex Naville 34 lot 281, 17.09.2017. Giovanni Dattari assembled what was undoubtedly the best ever collection of Imperial-era Alexandrian coins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; see Lucia Carbone, “Giovanni Dattari and His Fabled Collection of Alexandrian Coins,” ANS Journal (Issue 2, 2018), pp. 6-27. Nero (54 - 68 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: NEΡΩ KΛAY KAIS SEBA GEP AVTO, laureate head right. R: NEO AGAQ DAIM, Agathodaemon serpent, coiled with head up, holding poppies and grain ears, L ς (date) to left. Year 6. 23mm 13.11g Milne 203; Emmett 106.6 (R4) ; RPC 5260 The Agathodaemon was a good spirit/demon that was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians. He had the shape of a serpent with a human head. The Greek inscription on the reverse of this coin shows that this is the "neo" or "new" agathodaemon serpent, or, in other words, the new good spirit (of rule by Nero).
MACRINUS Pentassarion AE28 OBVERSE: AVT K OPEL CEVH MAKREINOC K M OPEL ANTWNEINOC - confronted busts REVERSE: VP PONTIAN-OV MARKIANO/ POLIT, Coiled serpent with radiate head Struck at Markianopolis, Moesia Inferior, Magistrate Pontianus; 217 - 218 AD 12.6g, 28mm Hr & J (2012) 6.24.22.6
Very nice acquisition! I was planning on bidding, as I like these ex-Dattari coins, and don't have an Agathodaemon yet, but decided not to at the last moment, saving my strength for something else (on which I was outbid!). Here is the pencil rubbing from Dattari Savio. It is 100% your coin. (I have a bunch of these and have checked many more.) Note exactly sure what RPC meant about DS12248, perhaps just that they have the same design. This photo may not be sharp enough, but here is the full plate, 12448 is down toward the lower r. ("12448" is penciled right above the plate no., 71). I have one that appears on the following Plate 72, DS 1588: In the vast majority of cases (but not 100%) the same specimen is numbered identically in the 1999/2007 Dattari-Savio catalog as in the (mostly unillustrated) 1901 Dattari. That means any time you see Dattari 1531 referenced, they are most likely referring to your coin. Having researched the publication histories of my own Dattari's (especially the Hadrians), I was able to quickly find your coin cited in two more important early 20th century references on Alexandrian coins: Milne, J.G., 1917, “The Alexandrian Coinage of the Early Years of Hadrian,” Numismatic Chronicle: page 47, 32 (a), first example ("D. 1531"); Vogt II (1924), Alexandrinischen: page 42 ("D 1530, 1531...") (Some of mine are shown with provenance research on my Provenance Coins, Part IV: Alexandria webpage: https://conservatoricoins.com/provenance-coins/part-iv-alexandria/ )
This is brilliant info Curtis - just what I needed! Many thanks. Very pleased to have acquired this coin, and hopefully will add a few more come the next Naville auction
