So, I have been working on a side project. I have been trying to build a 4th 12 Caesars set, but this time I am going to try to do it with Alexandrian coins. I already have a few of these and I was able to add another today. This coin will not win any beauty contests but i still really liked the looks of it and the provenance is unbeatable so I bought it. Please post your favourite coins of Alexandria. Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. Domitian, 81-96 Diobol circa 98-99 (year 9), Æ 24.7mm., 15.53g. Obv: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ; Laureate head r. Rev. ETOYΣ ENATOTOY Eagle standing r. on thunderbolt. RPC 2566(This coin cited). Dattari-Savio Pl. 22, 6809 (this coin). Rare, only two other specimens listed in RPC. Brown tone, Good Fine. From the Dattari collection. Ex; Naville Numismatics Live auction 51 Lot 305
Congrats on acquiring such a rare coin, my recent Alexandrian Domitian. Egypt, Alexandria. Domitian. A.D. 81-96. AE drachm (34.7 mm, 23.61 g, 11 h). Alexandria mint, Struck A.D. 95/6. [AVT KAIC ΘЄ] OVIOC ΔOMIT [CЄB ΓЄPM], laureate head of Domitian right / Frontal elevation of triumphal arch; L - IE ( yr. 15 = A.D. 95/6 ). Emmett 257.15. Near VF / VF, very dark green smooth patina. Scarce (Emmett "frequency" 2). From the D. Thomas Collection; Wz Group CEM; Ex Walter Niggeler Collection; Ex Bank Leu/Munzen und Medallien.
Always nice to have a Dattari example. Here is one of my favourite coins of Alexandria. . Hadrian Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm Obv.: AVT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CEB, Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind Rev.: CABINA CEBACTH, Draped bust of Sabina right. Billon, 13,32 g, 25.8mm Ref.: Geissen 90, 997. Dattari 1249. Kampmann-Ganschow 135, 32. 469
My favorite is this, the tetradrachm of Elagabalus with that most sophisticated double portrait of the Sun, looking up, and the Moon, looking modestly a bit lower. A dynamic portrait involving movement and contrast, making this a truly Baroque Roman sculpture. Tetradrachm Elagabalus (218-222), Alexandria. Potin. Dated RY 5 (221/222). Obv. Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev. Conjoined busts of Helios, draped and wearing radiate crown, and Selene, draped and wearing crescent-moon crown, right; L Є (date) to lower right. 22.5 mm, 12.62 gr. This one you haven't seen from me so far, a diobol of the emperor Hadrian with a bull. I like it a lot. Hadrianus 117-138, Roman Egypt. Mint Alexandria. AE23, AD 133-134. Diobol. Obv.: Laureate head right. Rev.: Apis bull to the right on ground line, altar right. Date IH = 18. 23 mm, 8.78 gr. Dattari 2007.
I have no Dattari coins. EGYPT, Faustina Junior (147-175 AD), dated Regnal Year 12 of Antoninus Pius (147/8 AD), billion tetradrachm 22mm 13.61g Obv: ΦΑVС[ΤΙΝΑ] СƐΒΑСΤΗ; Faustina II Rev: L ΔωΔƐΚΑΤΟV; Eusebeia seated left, holding patera over lit altar, holding long scepter RPC vol 4 #13632 (temporary), D 3247, Geissen 1945, M 1985 The concept of Eusebeia is anthropomorphized as the spirit of piety, loyalty, duty and filial respect. According to one source, her husband is Nomos (Law), and their daughter is Dike, goddess of justice and fair judgment. The Roman equivalent is Pietas.
I believe this is my only Dattari... Egypt, Alexandria. Dattari. In the name of Livia, wife of Augustus Diobol circa 1-2 (year 31), Æ 23.5mm., 7.46g. Draped bust r. Rev. Athena standing l., holding Nike and leaning on shield; L-ΛA. Dattari-Savio Pl. 3, 60 (this coin). RPC pag. 692, 5 (this coin cited). Nice brown-green tone. Very Fine From the Dattari collection
I really like the portrait of Gallienus on this Alexandrian tet. It's just a shame the reverse hasn't fared as well:
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 I particularly enjoy the patina on this coin, as well as the finely crafted reverse.
While I have a few Alexandrian 12 Caesars coins, none of them make my favorites. IMHO the golden age of Alexandrian coinage come with the 'Good' emperors and Severans. I don't have the complete set and never will but there are a few I like from that period. Trajan drachm / Eirene and Homonoia Hadrian tetradrachm / Serapis Hadrian obol / Harpocrates Aelius hemidrachm / Homonoia Antoninus Pius diobol / Bull (holed and ex x6) Antoninus Pius obol / modius Faustina II tetradrachm / Dikaiosyne Aurelius Caesar drachm / Nike Commodus tetradrachm / Nilus Commodus diobol / lion Well, that is ten (all allowed here) and I did not even get to the Severans (IMO the best part). I hope someone else will post their Severans here.
A 12 Caesars set built using Alexandrian coins sounds like a cool project! I only have one that would qualify, Roman Provincial Egypt. Claudius I, 41-54 AD. Æ Diobol. (9.12g) Mint of Alexandria, Egypt, struck 49/50 AD. Obv: TIB KΛAV KAI CЄBAC ΓЄPMA - laureate head right; LI (date year 10) before. Rev: Caduceus on tripod decorated with corn ears, across field AVTO-KPA. Ref: Emmett 78; Köln 91; RPC 5175. Ex: PNC Collection but I do Like Alexandrian coins very much. Here is my most recent addition: ROMAN EGYPT. Carus, September 282 - c. July/August 283 A.D. BI Tetradrachm. Egypt Alexandria Mint, struck 282/283 A.D. Obv: A K M A KA-POC CEB; Laureate bust of Carus right, draped, and cuirassed. Rev: Dikaiosyne standing left, scales in right hand, cornucopia in left. LA (Year 1) in left upper field. 20 mm, 7.92g, 11h Emmett 3996, Milne 4660, Sear 12197
