Billion Tetradrachms

I have really started to like these since acquiring my first as a whim for just over $20. I purchased it as a unknown and had to look it up myself after getting help with the emperor ID.
Maximiam Herculius, Billon Tetradrachm, Alexandria Mint 286-287 AD, Obverse: Laureate bust r, wearing paludamentum and cuirass ΑΚΜΑΟVΑΜΑΞΙΜΙΑΝΟCCΕΒ, Reverse: Elpis standing l, holding flower and raising skirt of chiton. In field L B star over B. Dattari 5873 and Haatvedt 1297
I really liked the thick design and I have purchased 2 more since. I think I will try to do a nice set of these as a lot can be had at a modest price.

Severina BI Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt. Year 7 of Aurelian = AD 275/6.
Æ 21mm/7.8gm Con/ at EF
Obv/ OVΛΠ CEVHPINA CEB, diademed and draped bust right.
Rev ETOVC Z, eagle standing left, head right, holding wreath in beak.
Ref/ Emmet 3966, Milne 4484

Claudius II Gothicus, Nike Reverse, Superb
Æ Potin Tetradrachm 21mm/9.3gm
Con/ dark bronze patina, complete legend, perfect centering on both sides and high-raised details, and an extremely elegant figure of Nike; Very Fine/EF
Obv/ AYT K KLAYDIOC CEB, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev/ Nike alighting right, holding wreath and filleted palm, flanked by year date LB = 268-296 AD
Ref/ Markl 33; (var of BMC 2321, Milne 4228; Dattari 5402; Geissen 3041; SNG Cop 843 (all with date in right field).)

Please feel free to share your Tets.

 

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Uncommonly nice examples for the time-period. That Severina is very desirable!

Here are some late tets:


Diocletian, AD 284-305.
Roman billon tetradrachm, 19.2 mm, 7.24 g, 12 h.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 285-6.
Obv: Α Κ Γ ΟVΑΛ ΔΙΟΚΛΗΤΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ, laureate and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: Athena seated left, holding Nike and resting on scepter, shield at side; L B (= regnal year 2) in field.
Refs: Dattari 5638; BMCG 2485; Milne 4765; Cologne 3211; RCV 12856.


Diocletian, AD 284-305.
Roman billon tetradrachm, 19.1 mm, 6.91 g, 12 h.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 286-7.
Obv: Α Κ Γ ΟVΑΛ ΔΙΟΚΛΗΤΙΑΝΟC CЄΒ, laureate head, right.
Rev: Tyche standing left, holding rudder and cornucopiae; L Γ (=regnal year 3) behind.
Refs: Dattari 5755; BMCG 2524; Milne 4821; Cologne 3230; RCV 12865; Curtis 2025; MRKA 1261; Emmett 4082.


Difficult to pin down with certainty given its state of preservation, but I think it's:
Maximian, 1st reign, AD 286-305.
Roman billon tetradrachm, 16.2 mm, 7.29 g.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 289-290 Obv: A K M A OVA MAΞIMIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust, right.
Rev: Dikaiosyne standing left, holding scales and cornucopiae; L in left field and Є (year 5 = 289/290) in right field.
Refs: Dattari 5850; Similar to BMCG 2550 and RCV 13345 (different placement of Є).


Cornelia Salonina, AD 253-268.
Roman billon tetradrachm; 8.96 g, 21.7 mm.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 266-267.
Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛѠΝЄΙΝΑ CЄΒ, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: Eagle standing left, wings open, holding wreath in beak, L IΔ before, palm behind.
Refs: Dattari 5345; BMCG 2278; Köln 2977; Milne 4151; RCV 1071


Cornelia Salonina, AD 253-268.
Roman billon tetradrachm; 9.95 g, 22.3 mm.
Egypt, Alexandria, AD 267-268.
Obv: ΚΟΡΝΗΛΙΑ CΑΛѠΝЄΙΝΑ CЄΒ, diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: Eagle standing right, wings open, holding wreath in beak, L IЄ before, palm behind.
Refs: Dattari 5346; BMCG 2280; Köln 2983; Milne 4189; RCV 10723.

 

These are the ones I have:


Galienus


Probus



Maximian

These late Alexandrian tets may be a little crude, but they sure have a unique sharm to them. I think everyone should own a few in their collection.

 

Nice pieces, the ones with extra lumpy cracked edges like your 1st example are particularly appealing to me. Collecting more should be both rewarding and affordable.

I was wondering if anyone knows what kind of purchasing power these debased mid-late 3rd century tetradrachms represented? While we're at it, what is the numismatic delineation between Billon and Potin in terms of silver content, or is the choice of terminology more a subjective matter?

When you see a big bronze Ptolemaic drachm that is 8 times as heavy as a later Roman tetradrachm it makes me curious about what the coins would actually purchase.

 

A nice deal!

 

Probably not much, but by this point the Roman world was moving towards fixed state pricing as a way to control inflation, and we were almost at the point of laws being passed stating that people could no longer change jobs, and positions becoming hereditary (the early onset of feudalism). Money did not mean as much in such a world as it had before....probably explaining why coinage became so small and less artistic in the decades to come.

 

Ice coins, severina looks like she has a long chin whisker.

 

Nice alexandrians folks !


Tranquillina, Tetradrachm
Alexandria mint, AD 242-243
CAB TPANKVLLEINA CEB, diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina right
Nike standing left, LS in field (sixth regnal year)
12,50 gr
Ref : Sear #3868v, RCV #8898v, Emmett #3449/6



Gallienus, Tetradrachm
Alexandria mint, year 14 (AD 266/270)
AVTKTTLIKGALLIHNOCCEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right
Eagle standing left, head right, with wreath in beak. LIdelta in left field, palm in right field
9.60 gr 22 mm
Ref : Emmett # 3804, RCV # 10582



Claudius II Gothicus, Tetradrachm
Alexandria mint, year 1 (AD 268/269)
AVKKLAVDIOCCEB, Laureate and draped bust right
Eagle standing right, head left, with wreath in beak. LA in right field
10.14 gr 21/22 mm
Ref : Emmett # 3878, RCV # 11407



Probus, Tetradrachm
Alexandria mint AD 277
A K M AVPTTPBOC CEB, Laureate and cuirassed bust of Probus right
Eagle right, head left, holding wreath in beak. LB in field (regnal year 2)
6,69 gr
Ref : Sear #4773v, Emmett #3983/2



Diocletian, Tetradrachm
Alexandria mint, year 9 (AD 292/293)
DIOKLETIANOCCEB, Laureate and cuirassed bust right
L - ENATOY, Nike flying right, A in exergue
7.91 gr
Ref : Emmett # 4064 (R3)


Q

 

Great coins britannia40, what I like most about this period of Tets is the bold strikes and high relief and yours are a good example of this. I am glad you have found a good collecting focus, my Alexandrian Tets are all of the late 60's AD.

 

I didn't give these the time of day until I joined CoinTalk, but then Mat, TIF, Zumbly, dougsmit and others schooled me and now I love them.

Severus Alexander, year 2 (222-223)


Severus Alexander, year 11 (231-232)


Tranquillina, year 5 (241-242)


Aurelian, year 5 (273-274)


Maximianus, year 11 (295-296, last year of tetradrachm issues except for brief revival under Domitius Domitianus)

 

those are some really nice pieces.

I recently gotten these online and thought I lost the photos. So im sitting at 5 total and putting focus between Tets and Women of Rome.

Probus
A.D. 277- 278 Alexandria, Egypt Ӕ Tetradrachm 19x20mm 8.8gm
A K M AVPPPOBOC CEB; Laureate and cuirassed bust right.
REV:Eagle standing right holding wreath in beak, palm branch over left shoulder, L-Γ (year 3 date) across fields. Emmett 3981

Claudius II
A.D. 268- 270 Alexandria, Egypt Tetradrachm 21mm 8.3gm
AVT K KΛAΔIOC CEB; Laureate, draped cuirassed bust right.
REV:Eagle looking back with head left, holding wreath in beak; LA (year 1 date) in right field.
Emmett 3878

 

that Tranquillina is amazing. I really love the look of it. I checked the prices on these so I will have to stick to my regular coin for her and not a tet

 

My first Ancient coin was a Diocletian Tet and I still carry it in my wallet to this day.

DIOCLETIAN - Year 5


I have a couple of others but this is probably the nicest -

Probus - Year 5

 

actually I find the probus the nicer piece I like the obverse.

 

For the price, it is hard to beat these chunky coins with interesting fabric.
Probus:


My favorites are the Septimius Severus and Julia Domna tetradrachms from year 2 (LB) when the mint was also striking denarii. After Commodus struck so many, there were few made again until the time of Elagabalus so I am lucky to have these.

There seems to be a bucket full of this Gordian III with Zeus being distributed. The same dealer that sold mine has had another, better one in each sale since. If you like the type, it will be possible to get one now (or never - depending on how many are left in the bucket???).

 

NERO
AR Billon Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: NERW KLAV KAIS SEB GER, radiate bust right, wearing aegis
REVERSE: AVTOKPA, draped bust of Alexandria right in elephant skin headdress, LIB to right, year 12
Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 65/6AD
10.8g, 28mm
Köln 172-174; Curtis 36-54, Dattari 204, SGI 633, RPC 5289

HADRIANBillon Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: AΥT KAI TΡAIAN AΔΡIANOC CEB, laureate head left
REVERSE: L EN-NEAKΔ (year 19), naked bust of Nilus right, wearing taenia, lotus on head, cornucopia on shoulder
Struck at Alexandria, Egypt, 134/5AD
8.95g. 24.6mm
Dattari 1430, Geissen 1147, Curtis 452,SNG Cop 393, BMC Alexandria 645 var (aegis)

 

Here's a few of mine:

Nero







Nerva



Salonina





Numerian





Diocletian

 

My only one; one of Diocletian. Currently under quarantine.

 

Thanks! If you were checking on VCoins, the prices there are misleading. Use acsearch instead (though you need a subscription). I got mine at auction for less than $100, and quite a few nice ones have been sold for around that. One of these would be a nice fit for your focus on tets and Roman women. (You have to say that carefully.)

 

These Roman Egypt tetradrachms are interesting even though they usually aren't "pretty". Prices have gone up rapidly in the last several years but they are still generally affordable, especially for the later emperor/empresses in the series.

The terminology for the type of metal isn't set in stone, but "billon" is the debased silver metal used in the earlier half of the Alexandrian output. During the mid third century the silver content fell to 10% and then to nearly none by the time of the Tetrarchs; these alloys are called "potin". I've largely given up caring about the silver content and nomenclature and am moving towards just calling them tetradrachms .

My first Alexandrian tet came from a small mixed lot purchased for the other coins. I thought this coin was uuuuugly. I was certain I'd never want another. Objectively, I still think it's not very attractive but there is something about Roman Egyptian coins that is compelling and now I have a hundred such tets .

My first:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
year 11, CE 147/8
billion tetradrachm, 23 mm, 11.7 gm
Obv: ANTΩNINOC CEBEVCEB; laureate head of Antoninus Pius right
Rev: L ENΔ E KATOV; Dikaiosyne seated left, holding scales and cornucopia
Ref: Emmett 1377.11, R1 (common)

A later tet from a coin show, purchased from a dealer who did not specialize in ancients. The relief is very high and the artistry quite good. It looks like a delicious piece of chocolate


Claudius II tetradrachm year 1, /eagle; Emmett 3878

Assorted favorite tets in my collection:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian
year 11, CE 126/7
billon tetradrachm, 26 mm, 12.6 gm
Obv: AVTKAITPAI AΔPIACEB; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev: L ENΔ EKATOV: Canopus of Osiris right
Ref: Emmett 827.11, R3; Milne 1205


EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus
year 4, CE 163/4
tetradrachm, 24 mm, 13.51 gm
Obv: ΛAVPHΛI OVHPOCCEB; bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust left
Rev: Radiate and draped bust of Serapis-Pantheos right, wearing calathus and horn of Ammon; trident behind shoulder; ∆/L in right field
Ref: Emmett 2360 (4), R1; Köln 2148; Dattari (Savio) 9420; K&G 39.77


EGYPT, Alexandria. Aquilia Severa
year 5, CE 221/2
tetradrachm, 23.5 mm, 11.57 gm
Obv: draped bust right
Rev: head of Zeus Ammon right; L-E
Ref: Emmett 3025.5, R3; Geissen 2376; Dattari 4186


EGYPT, Alexandria. Julia Mamaea
year 13, CE 233/4
tetradrachm, 24 mm, 14.36 gm
Obv: IOVMAMAIACEBMHTECEKCTPA; Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Rev: Serapis enthroned left, holding scepter, extending his right hand toward Cerberus seated at his feet; on throneback, Nike standing right, holding wreath and palm frond; L IΓ (date) to left, palm frond to right
Ref: Emmett 3226.13 (R4); Köln 2540; Dattari (Savio) 4517; K&G 64.119


EGYPT, Alexandria. Severus Alexander
year 12, CE 232/3
tetradrachm, 23 mm, 13.87 gm
Obv: AKAIMAAVPCEVAΛEΞANΔPOCEV; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Alexandria standing facing, head left, holding vexillum and grain ears; palm frond to left, L IB (date) to right
Ref: Emmett 3088.12 (R4); Köln 2474 var. (obv. legend); Dattari (Savio) 4264; K&G 62.172 var. (same)


EGYPT, Alexandria. Gallienus
year 13, CE 265/6
tetradrachm, 21 mm, 9.1 gm
Obv: Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: AVTKΠΛIKΓAΛΛIHNOCCEB; eagle standing right, holding wreath in beak, palm over shoulder; L IΓ across field
Ref: Emmett 3806(13), R1
Ex Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 88.203 (accessioned 1888); Benjamin Pierce Cheney Collection


EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian
billon tetradrachm, 22.5 mm, 12.9 gm
regnal year 5 (CE 120/1)
Obv: laureate head right, crescent in right field
Rev: Agathodaemon serpent standing erect right; L-E
Ref: Dattari-Savio plate 71, 1532 (this coin); RPC 5270; Emmett 803.5
ex Dattari Collection


EGYPT, Alexandria. Diocletian
year 11, CE 294/5
tetradrachm, 19 mm, 7.6 gm
Obv: ΔIOKΛHTIANOCCEB; laureate head right
Rev: Draped bust of Selene right, crescent before; L IA behind
Ref: Emmett 4080.11, R5