Favorite 2017: Alexandrian Tetradrachms

2017 has been a big year for me in terms of acquiring many Alexandrian Tets. As much as I like Syrian Tets, they are usually much less affordable in my monthly price bracket then Alexandrians.

I acquired about 30 this year and it really is hard to pick just a handful.

Below are the ones I picked.

Just a note, many are selected because I got/won them cheaply or for a bit of rareness they are.

The one that kickstarted my 2017 year or Alexandrian. A lady in Tet form I never thought I would own.


Lucilla (164 - 182 A.D.)
Billion Tetradrachm
EGYPT, Alexandria
O: ΛOVKIΛΛA C–ЄB ANT CЄ ΘV, draped bust right.
R: Elpis stdg. l. holding flowers & lifting skirt. LS=6th yr.
Alexandria Mint
24mm
11.33g
Dattari 3816, Emmett 2473, R5

A rough Gallienus, but special due to the color of it being silver, especially at a time when there was very little. Keith Emmett concluded it's base metal.


Gallienus (253 - 268 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Billon Tetradrachm
O:ΑΥΤ Κ Π ΛΙΚ ΓΑΛΛΙΗΝΟC CΕΒ. Laureate, and cuirassed bust right.
R: Homonoia standing left, holding double cornucopia and raising hand; palm in right field, to left, date ΛΙΔ
21.5mm
9.05g
Dattari 3816


Gallienus ( 253 - 268 A.D.)
Billon Tetradrachm
O: A K Π ΛI OY ΓAΛΛIANOC EY EY C, bearded, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: Nike (Victory) walking right, wreath extended in right, palm frond over shoulder in left, L - S flanking across field.
Alexandria Mint 258 -259 A.D.
21.6mm
9.13g
Savio pl. 271, 10525 (same dies); BMC Alexandria p. 286, 2194; Milne 3995; SNG Cop 768; Kampmann 90.31; Emmett 3736 (R2)

Published on wildwinds.


Julia Mamaea (222 - 235 A.D.)
Billion Tetradrachm
O: IOV MAMAIA CЄB MHTЄ CЄ K CTPA, draped bust right, wearing stephane.
R: Bust of Athena right, wearing Athenian helmet; LIA in left field, palm in right field.
Alexandria Mint, Year 11, 230/231 AD
11.18g
21mm
Emmett 3093; Dattari (Savio) 10051; BMC 1729; SNG Copenhagen 654.

Published on Wildwinds!


Maximinus I (235 - 238 A.D.)
Potin Tetradrachm
EGYPT, Alexandria
O: AYTO MAΞIMINOC EVC CEB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
R: Athena standing facing, head left, holding shield and spear; L Δ (date) across field. Dated RY 4 (237/8 AD)
9.4g
24mm
Köln 2580 var. (obv. legend); Dattari 4567; K&G 65.57; Emmett 3274.4


Severina (274 - 275 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Potin Tetradrachm
O: OYΛΠ CEYHΡINA CEB, draped bust right wearing stephane.
R: ETOVC S, eagle standing right, wreath in its beak. Year 6=274/5 AD
21mm
7g
Dattari 5506, Geissen 3103, Emmett 3966


Philip I (244 - 249 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Billion Tetradrachm
O: A K M IOV ΦIΛIΠΠOC EVC, laureate and draped bust right.
R: Alexandria standing left, facing, clothed in elephant hide, holding stalks in hand, vixellium in other, L-Δ in field.
Year 4 = 246-247 AD
23.5mm
13.9g
Alexandria 4853; Dattari 2725, Emmett # 3468

Very Rare

 

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Aurelian (270 - 275 A.D.)
Potin Tetradrachm
Egypt, Alexandria
O: A K Λ ΔOM AVΡHΛIANOC CEB, Laureate and cuirassed bust right.
R: Eagle standing right on wreath, head turned left; star above right, L D right. Dated RY 4 (272/3 AD)
11.25g
21mm
Köln 3076; Dattari 5492; Milne 4398 var. (no star); Emmett 3933 var. (same)


Macrianus (260 - 261 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Potin Tetradrachm
O: A K T ΦIOVΛ MAKPIANOC E CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right.
R: Eagle standing left, wreath in its beak.L A (regnal year = 1)
22.4mm
10.44g
Alexandria Milne 4056, Köln 3011, Dattari 5380, Emmett 3785; Sear 10816.


Carus (282- 285 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Potin Tetradrachm
O: A K MA KAΡOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
R: Dikaiosyne standing left holding scales and cornucopiae, LA to left.
20mm
6.99g
Sear RCV (2005) 12197; Milne 4660.


Constantius I (305 - 306 A.D.)
Egypt, Alexandria
Potin Tetradrachm
O: ΦΛA KωNCTANTIOC K, laureate bust right.
R: Homonoia standing left, raising arm and holding cornucopia, L Γ = year 3 (294/295)
8.43g
19mm
Kampmann/Ganschow 121.24, Dattari 6070 Emmett 4191.2

 

Great TETS, I especially like Julia Mamaea, with Helmeted Athena, beautiful detail.

 

NICE @Mat! Mamaea and Aurelian are my favorites... really like the Athena and the Eagle reverses. The Aurelian coin overall is just GOLDEN in appearance! Would love to see all 30... in a tray? Great job on those. It has been fun following your Tet posts!

Here is my Otho Tet (Reminds me of your Mamaea/Athena reverse):


RI Otho 69 CE BI AR Tet 23mm Egypt Helmeted Roma

 

Great Tets Mat!! Some rarer ones for sure! Really like the Macrianus (!), Julia Mamaea (neat Rx), Carus, Aurelian (cool wreath below),... heck I like them all!

Here is a Gallienus

 

Nice selection of Alexandrian tets, Mat. Looks like you had a great year with them. That silvery Gallienus is really intriguing.

 

I love Alexandrian tets and it looks like you indeed had a great year with them!

 

I agree with you Mat- I like Syrian tets the most..
Here are 2:

 

For the record: tets are only a part of the total Alexandria picture. The large copper drachms and fractions are interesting and often more difficult to obtain than the tets. They almost cease in the 3rd century but are the definition of cool in the time of Antoninus Pius. They seem to have more interesting reverses than the tets.

 

The Athena reverse is fantastic!

I didn't get a single Alexandrian tet in 2017, but I did get a drachm from Alexandria.

 

Excellent coins Mat!

 

I second Gandalf's request for a virtual tray!! You have a seriously enviable collection of these. I really like all those previously mentioned (boy would I ever like to have a Quietus like that Macrianus!) but will single one out that hasn't yet been mentioned: the Philip. Alexandria clothed in elephant skin, I mean how cool is that!!!

 

Thanks.

Doing a virtual tray is a bit time-consuming, especially when it's that many.

Got them all in their own gallery. The link is created to show the last additions, including my secret santas.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=-6573