I saw this tetradrachm newly-listed last week. I had never even seen the type before, and thought it was perfect for me given my interest in Ancient Egyptian iconography. What could be more perfect than a mummy? So I decided to buy it right away, because who knows how long I'd have to wait for another one, never mind a better one? So what if I can't read the obverse legend? They're usually all pretty much the same anyway! Emmett puts it in the most common category. but I'm skeptical. There are only about 10 listed on acsearch, plus a few of a slightly different type from a different year. Am I the only one who's been missing it, or do others also think it's relatively uncommon? It's my fifth Hadrian Egyptian coin -- not to mention my Hadrian Aegyptos denarius from the Travel Series, minted in Rome. It's not that I ever set out to buy Hadrians rather than Alexandrian coins from other emperors; there just seem to be more of his on the market than anyone else's. Even though I'm pretty sure that there are others, including Antoninus Pius (for whom I have two) who minted just as many. Anyway, here it is, along with the others. (Full references to sources are given only the first time.) Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 12 (126/127 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ - ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Mummiform Ptah-Sokar-Osiris* standing right, wearing solar disk as headdress, holding scepter tipped with jackal head, L ΔWΔƐ-ΚΑΤΟΥ [= Year 12 spelled out]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 5713 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5713, Emmett 883.12 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; BMC 16 Alexandria 637 & Pl. XXIII [Pool, Reginald Stuart, A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Vol. 16, Alexandria (London, 1892)]; Köln 982 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band II (Hadrian-Antoninus Pius) (Cologne, 1978, corrected reprint 1987)]; Dattari (Savio) 1445 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]; Milne 1259 [Milne, J., A Catalogue of the Alexandrian Coins in the Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay). 24 mm., 13.85 g., 11 h. *From the description in the CNG Triton XXI Catalog (Staffieri Collection, Jan 9. 2018) of the example from the Dattari Collection (No. 1445), sold in the Triton XXI auction as Lot 61: The image of the Ptah-Sokar-Osiris divinity belongs to Egyptian theology, and in particular to funeral worship. It brings together three famous members of the Pharaonic Pantheon through their respective symbols: the headdress and scepter for Ptah, the solar disk for Osiris, and the mummiform wrappings for Sokar – the "Lord of the Necropolis." These three associated divinities call upon the concepts of "mourning" and "life", evoking at the same time the pain associated with death and the hope of resurrection. The main sanctuaries of Ptah, Sokar, and Osiris were at Memphis and Abydos. Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 11 (126/127 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ - ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Canopic Jar of Osiris (a/k/a Osiris-Canopus Jar and Osiris-Hydreios)* right, surmounted by Atef crown above ram[?] horns; L ΕΝΔ - EKATΟΥ [= Year 11 spelled out]. RPC Vol. III 5640; RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5640; Köln 939; Milne 1205; Emmet 827.11; Dattari (Savio) 1327 . 25 mm., 13.41 g. (Purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 212th Buy or Bid Sale, August 2020, Lot 497.) *See https://egypt-museum.com/post/189683370661/osiris-canopus-jar#gsc.tab=0, with photos of the Osiris-Canopus Jar from Hadrian’s Villa, now at the Vatican Museum, describing it as “A Canopic jar with the head of Osiris emerging from it. In the cult of Isis and Serapis, during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Osiris-Canopus jars (also known as Osiris-Hydreios) were carried by priests during processions. As they are solid, each symbolically carried water from the Nile, fertility that originated from the god Osiris, one of Egypt’s earliest fertility gods. Osiris-Canopus was named after the ancient Egyptian town of Canopus, on the western bank at the mouth of the westernmost branch of the Delta known as the Canopic or Heracleotic branch – not far from Alexandria. Roman Period, ca. 131-138 AD. Grey basalt, from Hadrian’s Villa. Now in the Vatican Museums (Gregoriano Egizio). 22852.” Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 18 (133/134 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Serapis enthroned left, wearing modius on head, holding scepter in left hand, and extending right hand toward Cerberus seated to left at his feet; L IH [= Year 18] in left field. RPC Vol. III 5871; RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5871; BMC 16 Alexandria 620-621 at p. 74 & PL. XIII; Köln 1095; Dattari (Savio) 1480; Emmett 892.18; Milne 1394; K&G 32.571 [Kampmann, Ursula & Granschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria (2008)]. 25 mm., 12.42 g., 12 h. Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 19 (134/135 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate bust left, slight drapery; ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ Τ[ΡΑΙΑΝ] - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ (clockwise from upper right) [bracketed portion off flan] / Rev. Slightly draped bust of Nilus right, crowned with taenia and lotus-buds, cornucopia behind right shoulder; L ЄN NЄAKΔ [= Year 19 spelled out] (clockwise from lower left). RPC Vol. III 5941; RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5941; Köln 1147; Dattari (Savio) 7450-1; K&G 32.619; Milne 1449; Emmett 875.19. 24.5 mm., 13.10 g., 12 h. Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 22 (137/138 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΤΡΑΙΑ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Nilus seated left on rocks, holding reed in right hand and cornucopiae in left; crocodile below; L KB (Year 22) in left field. RPC Vol. III 6254; RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/6254; Emmett 879.22; Milne 1569; Köln.1241. 24 mm., 12.9 g. Hadrian AR Denarius, 136 AD, Travel Series, Rome Mint. Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right / Rev: AEGYPTOS, Egypt reclining left, holding sistrum in right hand and resting left arm on basket; to left, ibis standing right. RIC II-3 1482 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 297d (1926 ed.), RSC II 99, Sear RCV II 3456, BMCRE 801-3. 18 mm., 3.11 g., 7 h. Please post your own Hadrian Egyptian coins.
I strongly believe that there is a premium attached to coins that show old form Egyptian subjects rather than Hellenistic creations/imports. This would lead me to accept a type like the OP in lower condition than one with Serapis etc.
That's why the new one and the one with the Osiris canopus jar on the reverse are definitely my two favorites. Although in general I'm very willing to accept Alexandrian coins in lower condition than, say, a Roman Imperial or Republican denarius. And as artificial a creation as he may be, I'm kind of fond of Serapis, especially when he's playing with Cerberus as in one of my coins.
Cool Hadrian tetradrachms, Donna. I wasn't aware that there was one with a mummy on the reverse, but I guess I was just too wrapped up in things to take notice. I have one Hadrian tetradrachm, Alexandria, that I think I've posted before. EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 12.66 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 125/6). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Canopus of Osiris to right; L ∆-EKATOV (date) around. Köln 903 var. (placement of date); Dattari (Savio) 1326; K&G 32.351 var. (same); Emmett 827.10. VF. The Canopus of Osiris is really interesting, and I wouldn't mind having one in the backyard, just to give the place some atmosphere.
An utterly fantastic coin! I completely agree with Doug that the ethnic 'Egyptian' types command a premium over their 'Greek' siblings ... and rightly so!
Congrats! I saw that go up for sale and was a bit peeved, having just overpayed to get one myself! I was going to debut it in my top 10, but here goes:
Yours is great too. Your mummy could use some exercise, though. As I said before, I had no idea these even existed until I saw the one I bought..
Nice little pun there. I wasn't aware either, and when I saw it my eyes looked like some of the coins in @Ryro's thread.
Donna, Nice score on the mummiform Tet ! The Osiris/Canopus jar Tets are fascinating coins too . The Romans were obviously fascinated by many of the bizarre Egyptian religious beliefs, as can be seen on their coins. It seems strange to me that the Greek/Ptolemaic coinage doesn't portray anything really Egyptian on their coins . Instead their coinage follows typical Hellenistic themes.
That is impressive @DonnaML and as you know Roman coins is not my area. I think I will be on the lookout for a mummy coin! It is a very cool coin and as many said we don't see authentic Egyptian themes on the Hellenistic types.
Thanks. And yes, it seems to me that the Ptolemaic tetradrachms I've seen could have been minted anywhere in the Hellenistic world.
And I think that is why the tetradrachms of the Ptolematic kings are very similar. They stuck with a design familiar to merchants and the general population of their far-flung kingdom, very much in the way Athens kept their owls pretty consistent over the centuries, as well as with the coinage of Alexander III and his successors. The Romans marched to a different drummer, often creating very distinctive reverse designs in their domestic and provincial coinage.
Awesome coins Donna! I am studying classical history in university and my focus is on Greece & Rome (I’m writing a research paper on the Battle of Teutoburg Forest) and it’s so amazing to see relics from such an ancient era still among us today. Who knows who those coins could’ve belonged too? A merchant? A member of the Praetorian Guard? The Emperor himself perhaps? Hadrian was a good emperor. According to scholar Edward Gibbon, who wrote the hugely influential book “The History of the Rise & Decline of the Roman Empire” he was one of the five “Good Emperors” along with Nerva, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius. None of which became Emperor by birthright (they were not “born in the purple”) which led Gibbons to hypothesize that perhaps inherited power leads to corruption. He is also famous for building the famous “Hadrian’s Wall” some of which still stands today. You have a lot of history in those coins Donna, please take good care of them.
Thanks. And I will do my best, as their. temporary custodian for just one of the 65 or so lifetimes they've survived so far. Good luck on your thesis!
Astounding new acquisition! I do love all things ancient Egyptian and am highly awed and thoroughly jealous Here's some of my favorite Egyptian i-coin-ography:
Wonderful new coin, @DonnaML ! And a great set in your post! Fantastic. I regret I have no Hadrian Egyptians. Happy Chanukah Season to you and yours, Donna!
It's an interesting point that Ptolemaic coins have less Egyptian themes. Like the Romans, they also had a closed currency system where foreign coins had to be exchanged for the debased Ptolemaic coins. So the Ptolemaic coins were meant for use within Egypt, just like the Roman ones. Yet for the most part the most Egyptian themes that you see on Ptolemaic coins are some headdresses in the fields. The Romans started to introduce more Egyptian imagery, but it really wasn't until the 2nd Century AD that it really took off. The Ptolemies certainly had no issue with adopting Egyptian imagery. Here's Ptolemy III as a Pharaoh: Anyway, here's my Hadrian Ptah:
