Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;cmezner, post: 8334181, member: 87809&quot;]Got it also from the April coin show at Schaumburg:</p><p><br /></p><p>This drachm commemorates Hadrian’s arrival in Egypt in the year 130-131 AD. It shows&nbsp; the Emperor being greeted by the city goddess Alexandria wearing an elephant-skin headdress, which can also be found on coins of Ptolemy I centuries before. </p><p><br /></p><p>Arriving in August of 130 AD, Hadrian enjoyed the sights and rites of Egypt and the imperial entourage sailed on the Nile, which ended in tragedy when his companion, the Bithynian Antinous, drowned in the Nile. According to <i>Historia Augusta</i>, Hadrian “wept like a woman”.</p><p><br /></p><p>The shipment of grain was quite risky during the winter months, as it was exposed to storms and tempests. Under Hadrian’s reign transport became more lucrative for ship owners, as they were not only exempt from levies, but also were awarded generous privileges, and even were compensated with the full value of ship and cargo when loss happened. </p><p><br /></p><p>The arrival of Hadrian in Alexandria happened before August 28, 130 AD, but not long before, because these drachms of year 15 show details about Hadrian&#039;s arrival: receiving grain-ears from Alexandria in a ceremonial greeting (he is wearing a toga) extending his hand for a kiss.</p><p><br /></p><p>The kiss of Alexandria on the emperor&#039;s extended hand could represent the gratefulness of the Alexandrian shipowners for these privileges. However, it could also just be Alexandria’s salutation at the arrival of the emperor.</p><p><br /></p><p>Æ Drachm </p><p>Alexandria, Royal year L – IE (15) = 130/131 AD</p><p>22.56 g</p><p>RPC III 5777; Emmett 964.15; Köln 1034; Dattari (Savio) pl. 75, 1610 &amp; 7544-5; Milne 1315; Kampmann-Ganschow 32.509; Geißen 1034; BMC Alexandria p. 101, 869</p><p><br /></p><p>Obv.: AVT KAI - TPAI AΔPIA CEB; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to r. wearing aegis.</p><p>Rev.: Hadrian standing facing, laureate head to l., wearing toga, holding scepter, greeted by Alexandria, head bowed, clad in elephant skin headdress, chiton, and peplos, holding two grain-ears downward with l. hand and holding he emperor&#039;s extended hand with her r. hand in a gesture of kiss on the hand; L–IE (date) across field.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1477516[/ATTACH]</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1477515[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The first Roman emperor to portray Alexandria on his coinage was Nero. He struck so many coins in Alexandria that the output of the mint is roughly half of the known examples of Billon Tetradrachms. Vespasian continued the trend.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please share your Alexandria Drachms or anything you think is relevant[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in