I recently had a strong itch for something Egyptian (okay, I always do, but it was stronger than usual!), so I went and purchased this lovely Hadrian tetradrachm from Alexandria. I have always loved the chunkiness of these Roman Alexandrine tetradrachms (this one being my first from the 2nd century). I'd been looking for a nice Hadrian as well since my collection lacks coins of him, so this coin scratches that itch as well. I looked at examples of this type from the same year, and I believe I noticed a possible obverse die match. Hadrian, Roman Empire BI tetradrachm Obv: AVT KAIC TΡAIAN AΔPANOC CEB, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust right Rev: Serapis seated left holding sceptre, reaching out to Kerberos, LI-H across fields Mint: Alexandria Date: 133-134 AD Ref: Milne 1398 Please post your Roman tetradrachms from Alexandria!
Nice coin ! Here is another Alexandria/Serapis Tetradrachm: Faustina II Alexandria Billon-Tetradrachm Obv.: ΦAVCTINA CEBACTH, draped bust right Rev.: L - IΘ = year 19 (AD 155/156 ), Draped figure of Serapis, seated on high backed throne to left, holding long sceptre in his left hand and extending his right to touch Kerberos Billon, 11.48g, 22mm Ref.: Dattari 3267
Nice one, VK. Instead of a Serapis, I'll post a Helios reverse. HADRIAN Billon Tetradrachm. 13.36g, 25mm. EGYPT, Alexandria, RY 11 (AD 126/127). Dattari (Savio) 1383; RPC Online temp #5649; Emmett 852.11. O: AΥΤ ΚΑΙ - ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ СƐΒ, Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: L ΕΝ – ΔΕΚΑΤΟΥ, Radiate and draped bust of Helios right. Ex Hermanubis Collection
One of my most recent coins purchased: Tranquillina. Augusta, AD 241-244. Potin Tetradrachm (22.3mm, 11.85 g). Dated RY 7 of Gordian III (AD 243/244). Draped bust right, wearing stephane / Homonoia standing left. Dattari (Savio) 4824; Emmett 3449.7 (R2).
Tetradrachms are great but the Alexandrian series includes many very nice bronzes, too. That is a subject for another thread. Hadrian tetradrachm year 12 spelled out. Compare to your year 18 using numerals L IH.
Nice, here is mine. Hadrian (117 - 138 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: AVT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. R: Hades-Serapis seated left on ornate throne decorated with crowning Nikai, extending right hand over seated Cerberus, holding long scepter in left; L I–ς (Year 16) across field. 12.37g 24mm Dattari (Savio) 1477; K&G 32.514; Emmett 892
Nice tets. I don't have a Hadrian, but I just got an Aurelian/Vaballathus on the cheap. It is pretty crusty, but I really like the colors on it. The more I collect, the more I find colors becoming more of a consideration for me. I like those blue nodules: Egypt Potin Tetradrachm Aurelian and Vaballathus Year 2/5 (271-272 A.D.) Alex. [AVT K] Λ Δ AVPHΛIANOC CЄB, L, D & C bust of Aurelian right; across field, date (L B) / IAC OVABAΛΛAΘOC AΘHNO V [AVT] C Pω, D & D bust of Vaballathus r., L Є across field. Dattari 5425; K&G 106.72 (7.85 grams / 20 mm)
Antoninus Pius Bil Tetradrachm Alexandria 139-140 A.D. Rv Dikaiosyne seated left Emmett 1377(2) Milne 1616 14.49 grms 24 mm
OK, mine is plaster and was given to me by a person who was allowed to make casts for study. The coin is in a museum, the cast was made with permission by a non-museum employee and then painted and photographed by me. Did you know that you can make a plaster cast from a plaster cast? It is obviously the only way a guy like me will ever have a tetradrachm of Pertinax Junior and his mother.
Excellent new tet VK, with a neat reverse type! Here's one of my faves that I don't often post (Aurelian):
Very nice new tet! Also, everyone else's are great too!! Here are two that I recently picked up this last month: Cornelia Salonina, Wife of Gallienus who ruled 253-268 AD AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria Struck 264/265 AD Obverse: KOPNHΛIA CAΛΩNЄINA CЄB, diademed and draped bust of Salonina right. Reverse: Eirene standing left, holding olive branch and sceptre; palm before, IB/L (date), (RY 12 = 264/265 AD). References: Köln 2969; Dattari 5331; Milne 4102; Emmett 3855 Size: 22mm, 11.0g Philip II, Ruled 247-249 AD AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria Year 5 of Philip I, Struck 247/248 AD Obverse: A K M IOV ΦΙΛIΠΠΟC ЄV, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Reverse: Homonoia standing facing, head left, holding double cornucopia and raising hand, date LЄ (year 5 = 247/248 AD) to left. References: Dattari 5055; Milne 3704; Emmett 3593 Size: 22.8mm, 11.9g
Valiant Knight, You scored a nice looking Tet of Hadrian, with an attractive depiction of Serapis . It would be great if you could get a larger photo of the CNG example in your thread. With a larger photo some CT member might do a computer overlay. I'm posting the only example of a Hadrian Tet still in my collection that's been posted before, but should fit well with the many other fine examples in this thread. The reverse depicts an attractive portrait of Zeus & Hadrian's portrait is well done too. Billon Tet, dated Year 10 (AD 125-6), 13.37 gm, 24 mm. Many years after I bought the coin, much to my delight , I discovered the coin was illustrated in David Vagi's book COINAGE and HISTORY of the ROMAN EMPIRE, volume two, #1387.
That's a great tet from Alexandria @ValiantKnight! Nice portrait with a very Egyptian reverse. This is one of my favourite Alexandrian tets. Vespasian AR Tetradrachm, 11.87g Alexandria mint, 75-76 AD RPC 2447 (14 spec.). Obv: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY; Head of Vespasian, laureate, r., date LH before neck Rev: ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΩΡ ΤΙΤΟΣ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ; laureate head of Titus, r. Acquired from Praefectus Coins, September 2014. Ex Harry N. Sneh Collection.
This one came to me in April from Jean Elsen. A common tet but with a good eye appeal, especially represented by this emerald-colored patina. Aurelian and Vabalathus. BI tet (270-1 AD). Dattari 5422. The odd thing here is that the coin has two distinct dates from the beginning of the reign: year 4 for Vabalathus and year 1 for Aurelian. Really, something bold, suggesting that the boss was the vassal...
I really like this coin type. But I only have third century tetradrachms. Philip I, looking stern. Rev. Homonoia standing facing with head left, raising hand and holding double cornucopia. 22 mm, 12.42 gr. Emmett 3487.2. Maximianus Herculius. 18 mm, 7.2 g, 12h. Dated RY 3 (AD 287). Rev. Victory walking right with laurel crown and branch. Diocletian. 19 mm, 6.90 gr. Dated RY 11 (AD 294/5). Rev.: Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm. With exergue alright, but I don't think there's any letter in it.