Emmett 1: the first coin of Roman Egypt

Sometimes patience is not my forte. This is a good example. I've been wanting this type of coin-- the first issue of Roman Egypt-- for a year or two. During that time I missed a couple of better examples due to bidding on other coins. This coin is awful, one of the worst I've seen-- but they are hard to come by in any condition and the price was not unreasonable. It was my last purchase of 2015 but didn't get photographed until today because I've been away from home for the last two and a half weeks.

Despite its condition, it is not unloved , although it will be upgraded when the opportunity presents itself. This is an interesting and historic coin, incorporating icongraphy from the Ptolemaic era.

It has now been soaked in Verdicare and will be inspected regularly for occurrence (or recurrence, more likely) of bronze disease.


EGYPT, Alexandria. Augustus
80 drachmai (diobol); 26 mm, 14.2 gm
First series, struck circa 30-28 BC
Obv: bare head right
Rev: eagle standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left, Π to right
Ref: Emmett 1; RPC I 5001

A blurb about the type from CNG:

"The first coinage of the new province of Egypt was a direct copy of the bronze coinage of Cleopatra, the last Ptolemaic ruler, with the portrait of Augustus replacing the Queen’s. Egypt, wealthy and a vital source of grain for the empire, was to be never allowed again as a potential leaping-off point for a rival emperor. The new province was held under tight control by the emperor. Its governor was to be an equestrian prefect answerable to Augustus, with a legion under his direct command. The Senate would have no say in the administration of the province, and in fact, senators were forbidden to travel there without permission."

 

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That's a sweet piece TIF love the eagle.

 

It's a cool coin for the type...and I still lack an example----although it does resemble my worn Cleopatra bronze---they even look alike LOL

 

Nice addition! I have a soft spot for these imperial tets from Alexandria.

 

interesting! does it have the "dimple"?

 

No, I think the flan manufacturing techniques must've been different for these Roman Egypt coins. I haven't seen any with a dimple.

 

Emmett 1, what a special coin indeed! I don't think I have a Number 1 coin of any catalog. What an historically important piece!

 

Hi TIF,

nice Emmett 1, eagle has a wreath ?

 

No, there is no wreath in the eagle's beak. I'm not sure what the "halo"-ish thing is on my coin-- just odd wear. The eagle's head is facing left, or would be if you could see it

 

Cool! While this isn't going to win any points for beauty, it should be pointed out that examples of Emmett 1 typically come very worn and in otherwise terrible shape.

Minor point, but if this is struck 30-28 BC, wouldn't one call it Octavian rather than Augustus? I suppose Emmett for convenience just has all of his coins under Augustus?

 

True, and I wonder why that is the case. All listings I've seen-- the few I've found-- name Augustus rather than Octavian. Hmm.

In his book, Emmett does give a range of 30-27 BCE for the first series but that still begs the question. I lifted the date range from some CNG comparisons.

I think I'll amend the name when I put it on my website

 

That's nasty ... but awesome



congrats => I'm glad that floppy ol' hound found a loving home (very cool coin)

 

I wish the details were as clear as the history, I see very well why you bought it. Over the top. Everything that is important is there. I would welcome such a coin.

 

I have an odd coin my aunt died and it was in her collection but its not like any I have ever seen... It's oddly similar to this very hard to read I'm not sure it is this coin but id love to know what it is??

 

I've found a coin similar to this my aunt passed and this was in her collection no one in the family can tell me what it is only its special. Can u help me determine what it may be its in poor shape but I have searched for days and still can't figure it out. It's very similar

 

Sure, we all love a challenge . Take the best pictures you can (in focus, well-lit) and post them in a new thread along with the size of the coin (diameter) and if possible, the weight in grams. If you know how to edit photos, it is best to crop out the excess background before posting the pictures.

 

Best picture I can get. It is slightly larger than a quarter but not much.... And it weighs 9.61grams

 

Claudius? No idea on the reverse.

 

Recently, I believe it was for Steve's benefit, we had a discussion of the difference between Imperial and Provincial coins. I think this one is in a gray area since the date places it before Augustus was Augustus and 'founded' the Empire. I won't call him Octavian because I understand he hated that name and I won't call him Caesar which he would have liked since that would be confusing so I'm perfectly fine with using Augustus. As I see it, Egypt belonged to Cleopatra. 'Rome' did not defeat Cleopatra; Augustus did. Egypt became the private property of the Emperor with completely different laws from those governing other 'Provinces' which, technically, it was not. Perhaps this coin does belong in Emmett as #1 but it seems to me at the same time as being the last coin of the Ptolemaic series which it resembles closely. Like coins of Cleopatra, it was made for use in her realm which by that time was no longer hers but Augustus'. Collectors and high school history teachers tend to try to force things in neat little boxes that allow easy testing for what Virginians call 'Standards of Learning' (other places have different names for equally worthless measures of incompetency in understanding). I suppose that is about equivalent to collectors who define "ID" as knowing the catalog number.

What I like about TIF: This coin joined her collection previously including EF tetradrachms of fine style. She understands the 'value' of both. Congratulation on attaining a goal but please spare us the photo of this coin reflected in a quicksand bog.

Trivia: What is the first Emmett listed coin that fits the pattern of AR/billon tetradrachm and a series of copper drachms and fractions of the type we find throughout most of the coins shown in that reference? How did we get from an 80 drachmai 'diobol' to a diobol requiring a half dozen to be one drachma?

 

Thanks-- mostly. I love the reflection template. But since you don't care for it, I have edited it just for you.

"Bloodbath Reflection Template"