I love quirky coins. I also love Roman Egypt. That meant that I had to have this unique specimen, even if I'm not sure what to make of it. It's a drachm of Hadrian that has been filed to have a serrated edge. Based on the patina, this appears to have happened in antiquity, and would have likely taken some amount of work, judging by the depth of the scratches left on Hadrian's bust by a few slips on the file. Why? You tell me. And if you have a similar coin, please share! Alexandrian drachm of Hadrian; modified Obverse: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ - ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ϹƐΒ; laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian, r., seen from rear Reverse: L IE; Alexandria, head bowed, standing, r.; to r., Emperor (Hadrian), laureate-headed, wearing toga, standing facing, head l., holding sceptre Struck AD 130/1, 17g, 34mm; RPC III 5777 If I'm not imagining it, it also appears to have a small graffito, which I wasn't able to really capture in the same image as the overall coin, on two of the serrations reading T Φι (or perhaps it was there before and was cut apart by the serrations): Similar modifications seem to show up over large spans of time and in different cultures; there's no shortage of Roman examples (see a bunch of them posted on FORVM), but they also show up in Qing Dynasty China, Central Asia, and early modern Britain. This is, to my knowledge, the only Alexandrian coin with such modification. Explanations range from creating cutting tools, toys, gaming tokens, decorations, or even combs. The possibility of a votive significance also crossed my mind. It may be that there isn't a single explanation for these, beyond noting that people do weird things with coins.
I believe I have seen other examples on drachms, (never noticed marks on the flanges though). A person could make an excellent collection of these done in antiquity. Most junk boxes have a few coins damaged centuries or millenia ago that most collectors ignore. It would be a fascinating specialty. Just like counterstamped large cents, I find the idea an excellent one to pursue, but I have too many subcollections as it is.
Very cool! I haven't seen an Alexandrian drachm modified in this fashion before. I don't have any theories, but have two similar-ish items from very different periods, one a 4th century Aelia Flaccilla AE2 and another a Byzantine anonymous class F follis from the 11th century. BYZANTINE EMPIRE AE 'Thing' (Anonymous Class F Follis cut into a 12-pointed star for use as a gaming token?). 4.35g, 22.8mm. Constantinople mint, AD 1059-1067. Sear Byzantine 1856. O: Christ seated on throne without back, raising right hand in benediction. R: IS XS / bASILE / bASIL, cross below. AELIA FLACCILLA AE2 (modified for use in ancient times, possibly as a gaming token?). 4.1g, 21.6mm. Antioch mint, circa AD 383-386. RIC IX Antioch 62. O: AEL FLACCILLA AVG, diademed and draped bust right. R: SALVS REI-PVBLICAE, Empress standing left, holding scroll; ANTЄ in exergue.
Hi @SeptimusT , That is a great coin (token? )! I'm jealous , in a good way. Here is something similar, an LRB from Diocletian I posted previously on CT https://www.cointalk.com/threads/defaced-coins.350157/#post-3875661 - Broucheion
Very interesting coins. Zumbly's Byzantine looks sharp! For what it's worth, the pattern on the second coin posted by Zumbly, and on some of the coins on the thread shared by Broucheion, look a little similar to the marks on tokens from this Roman board game: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roman_board_game_from_Silchester.jpg