A couple of new Alexandrian tetradrachms

I typed an explanation of the above but the software refused it because I was not logged in. In short: Great coin; great thread; all I can add is a few more empresses.

 

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The Selene is lovely. I have wanting a nice one but have always lost out thus far. The hunt continues.

I do have a collection of most of the Probus variants with the search continuing for the Probus on horseback type which is possibly still unique so may take me quite a while.

I am afraid I will bore people by wheeling out some of my Probus examples....

Probus, Billon tetradrachm

Obv:– A K M AVP PROBOC CEB, Laureate cuirassed bust right
Rev:– Elpis (Spes) standing left, holding flower and raising skirt.
Minted in Alexandria, Egypt. Year 2. (B over L in left field)
Reference:– Milne 4531. Emmett 3987(2) R1. Curtis 1881. BMC 2417



Probus, Billon tetradrachm

Obv:– A K M AVR PROBOC CEB, Laureate draped bust right
Rev:– None, Bust of Serapis right
Minted in Alexandria Egypt. L - E | _ Year 5. A.D. 279-280
Reference:– Milne 4605. Curtis X-1889, Emmett 3993(5) R4. BMC -. Dattari 5544

A rare type for Probus



and my favourite...

Probus, Billon tetradrachm

Obv:– A K M AVP PROBOC CEB, Laureate, cuirassed bust right
Rev:– None, Nike advancing left, holding wreath in both hands
Minted in Alexandria, Egypt. Year 3. (LГ in left field)
Milne 4555. Curtis -, Emmett 3992(3)R5. BMC -.

Ex-Olympus Coins February 1992
Ex-Keith Emmett Collection

 

So, I mentioned provenances, and the following are a few of the resources I use in hunting provenance of Roman Egypt coins. In no particular order:

1. Savio, Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Bernardi 2007): A book of 380 plates containing the pencil rubbings that Dattari made of his entire collection of Roman Egypt coins - about 13,000 coins! Often referenced by dealers as "Dattari (Savio)", it provides an image of every coin listed in the original Dattari catalogue, plus many that were not listed. The rubbings are surprisingly detailed, though imprecise (high points show well, low points not so well). Still, it's easy to identify a coin as "ex Dattari" by matching it to a rubbing in Savio. I've done so several times.

2. Munzhandlung Basel 6: An auction catalogue from 1936, and one of the first auction catalogues to feature Roman Egypt coins. It contains several, lovely plates of coins, all from the collection of Dr. Steger. If you see a Roman Egypt coin identified as "ex Steger", this is likely the source.

3. Kerry Wetterstrom Collection: CNG (through its predecessor, CNA), sold Wetterstrom's large collection of Roman Egypt over several fixed price lists and auction sales from 1988-1990. I acquired all the catalogues, cut out the Roman Egypt sections, and had those sections cobbled together and hardbound into a single, easy-to-browse volume.

4. Walter Niggeler Collection: Volume 2 of this famous series of 1960s auction sales by Bank Leu & Munzen und Medaillen, contains a collection of stunning quality Roman Egypt drachms, presented on 7 high-quality plates.

5. Munz Zentrum Auction 52 (1984): Excellent modern catalogue entirely focused on Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt, but only the first 78 lots are Ptolemaic; the remaining 1300 lots are Roman Egypt with each coin illustrated on its description page.

 

Speaking of Alexandrian tets of Diocletian, this one came in the mail on Wednesday! Love that Athena with Victory reverse.

 

Here is one of Phillip I - obverse is a bit rough but I really liked the Helios reverse on this one.

Philip I tetradrachm
13 g 22 mm
Regnal year 6 248-249AD
bust right laureate w cuirass AKMIOVΦIΛIΠΠOEC /
Helios bust right L S across fields
Emmett 3484.6

 

Thats a great looking Tet!

 

That Helios is wonderful.

 

I bought a recent lot of provincial tets w/ a few Alexandrians in there.
This is the nicer of the group:

EGYPT, Alexandria. Gordian III. AD 238-244. Potin Tetradrachm (22mm, 13.62 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 238/9). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Zeus enthroned left, holding phiale and scepter; to left at feet, eagle standing left, head right; L B (date) to upper left.

Ex Hermanubis Collection

 

Nice tet., though the mark on the cheek would bother me over time since it's right in the middle.

 

Love the tetradrachms. Great history, but not too expensive. (My friends below, but not my pictures.)


EGYPT. Alexandria. Tranquillina (Augusta, AD 241-244). BI tetradrachm (12.55 gm). Dated RY 5 (AD 241/2). Draped bust of Tranquillina right, wearing stephane / Homonoia standing facing, head left, holding cornucopia. Koln 2688.

Had to look that one up:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranquillina








EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian (AD 117-138). BI tetradrachm (13.09 gm). Dated RY 10 (AD 126/7). Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian right / Agathodaemon serpent coiled about caduceus erect right facing Uraeus erect left; LΔ (date) ΕΚΑΤΟV around. Emmett 804. Milne 1164

guy

 

I remember that slabbed Tranquillina from a Heritage auction last year because of the word "silvering". I guess they mean a modern treatment. Roman Egyptian tetradrachms were never silvered... were they??

 

Great memory.

I've seen several (and have in my possession three) tetradrachms that have silvering. I will defer to the experts on the original appearance and degree of silvering of the tetradrachm when minted.

 

Good question TIF...Were any Bil Tets from Egypt ever silvered???

 

It makes no sense that they were gradually diluting the amount of silver in there BI-Tets from Vespasian on wards to go to the trouble of silvering in later years.

 

Congrats on adding a couple more cool Alexandrian Tets, Wiz-kid

=> here are a few of my humble Alexandrian Tet examples ...

Carinus


Probus


Tacitus



Saloninus

 

Still like that Saloninus a lot!

 

Well, since I just picked up a modest, highly worn Billon Tet of Alexandria, I might as well post it.To me, its main appeal is that it depicts Nero and Poppaea and it was VERY CHEAP!! It also complements those of Nero I already have and hopefully a future purchase of a high-grade denarius or sesterces will complete my mini-series.


Year 1 or 63-64 AD; 13.33 grams......

 

Just a couple Alexandria Tets:

 

I kinda like THESE Alexandrian Tets too...

 

Me too!!

My favorite, Ptolemy II, courtesy of A-Noob: