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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;TIF, post: 3126212, member: 56859&quot;]<i>This</i> low:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/augustus-80drachmae-emmett1-jpg.468030/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b>EGYPT, Alexandria. Augustus</b></p><p>80 drachmai (diobol); 26 mm, 14.2 gm</p><p>First series, struck circa 30-28 BC</p><p>Obv: bare head right</p><p>Rev: eagle standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left, Π to right</p><p>Ref: Emmett 1; RPC I 5001</p><p><br /></p><p>Purchased from a reputable dealer on eBay.</p><p><br /></p><p>Why did I want this bronze dog?&nbsp; Because it is one of the earliest coins of Roman Egypt.&nbsp; In Emmett&#039;s catalog the type is numbered 1.&nbsp; He lists it as Augustus but if the date of striking is correct, he was still called Octavian.</p><p><br /></p><p>The design and styling mimic late Ptolemaic bronzes-- in particular, Cleopatra VII (a 40 drachmae shown below; her 80 drachmae were the same but with a Π in the upper right reverse field:</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://www.cointalk.com/attachments/kleopatra40drachmae-rt-jpg.771615/" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><b>EGYPT, Ptolemaic dynasty. Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera</b></p><p>51-30 BCE</p><p>AE 40 drachmae</p><p>Obv: Diademed and draped bust right</p><p>Rev: KΛEOΠATPAΣ BΑΣΙΛΙΣΣHΣ, Diademed and draped bust right / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; double cornucopiae to left, M (mark of value) to right</p><p>Ref: Svoronos 1872; Weiser 184-5; SNG Copenhagen 422-4</p><p><br /></p><p>A blurb about the Emmett I type from CNG&#039;s archives:</p><p><br /></p><p>&quot;The first coinage of the new province of Egypt was a direct copy of the bronze coinage of Cleopatra, the last Ptolemaic ruler, with the portrait of Augustus replacing the Queen’s. Egypt, wealthy and a vital source of grain for the empire, was to be never allowed again as a potential leaping-off point for a rival emperor. The new province was held under tight control by the emperor. Its governor was to be an equestrian prefect answerable to Augustus, with a legion under his direct command. The Senate would have no say in the administration of the province, and in fact, senators were forbidden to travel there without permission.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Would I like a better example?&nbsp; You bet <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.&nbsp; They don&#039;t come up that often though.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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