This guy came in the mail today. It was listed as a "Roman Egypt Tetradrachm" and for $8 I couldn't say no to checking two boxes. 1) Alexandrian Tet and 2) Nike/Victory. Now I'm trying to read the legend on the obverse and I "believe" it is Numerian. The legend is a bit smooshy as a lot of these later billon tets tend to be but I can't think of any other ruler it could be. Could someone either confirm or deny my (in)sanity? Thanks for looking! Also, feel free to post any coins of the gone-too-soon, dead-in-his-coach, ruler. Numerian Potin Tetradrachm of Alexandria Year 3 = 284 AD Obverse: A K M A NOYMEΡIANOC CEB, laureate draped bust right Reverse: ETOYC Γ, Nike walking right, holding wreath and palm
Historically, Diocletian circulated the story that the prefect Arrius Aper had slain Numerian. As a result, Diocletian drew his sword and slayed Aper in front of the assembled troops, swearing an oath to the gods that he (known as Diocles at the time) was innocent of any crime... Numerian, Feb/March 283 - Oct/Nov 284 A.D. Roman Provincial Egypt Billon Tetradrachm, 8.26 grams, 20.7 mm, Alexandria mint Obverse: AK M A NOVMEPIANOC CEB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right Reverse: Athena seated left on high backed throne, wearing crested helmet, long scepter in left hand, Nike offering wreath in right hand. Reference: Köln 3192-3193; Dattari 5607, Emmett 4013; Sear 12272
Emmett 4023 specifies Nike holds a trophy (over shoulder) and wreath (upper right partly there - as seen on your coin) as a variant from the normal plain Nike flying right not mentioning attributes. The reverse left is clearly ETOYC gamma so the obverse must be a coin as Augustus. Emmett lists the type with two question marks, one following 'right' and one following the rarity 5 number. I do not know why either of those features would get a question mark unless he was reporting a coin he had not seen but that had been reported. He quotes MT 3595 but that is a reference I lack. Yours seems to be a bit lower grade than we would like but I suspect it may be better than we have any right to expect. I am not a Numerian specialist BUT I would suggest you keep that coin until you meet one.
Thanks all! It seems that my handy-dandy word doc of Roman Ruler's on Alexandrian Tets is working! @dougsmit The picture doesn't do the reverse justice. While it is still lower grade (obviously, since that's my wheel house), it has some better details than what my picture shows. What I'm not seeing is a trophy that you mentioned her carrying. As for keeping the coin, you know it isn't going anywhere
I tried to get a better picture of the reverse. It doesn't look like Nike is holding a palm to me. Perhaps it is the trophy?
I am not aware there is a Emmett 4023 this is his final draft from 2014. In my collection no Nike holding trophy only the wreath and palm. Emmett 4022(3)a= B1k2; ↑ETOUC to right G; [PEUS_369-1407]; [GB_31-909]; [FM-1240] 4022(3)b= B2k2; ↑ETOUC to right G; M-4739-40; [BNF-8485759]; EMMETT-CO-901]; [OTHILA-315] 4022= Nike flying (right?) ; holds trophy and wreath.
