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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;ancient coin hunter, post: 3253199, member: 87200&quot;]Here&#039;s a Hadrian drachm of Alexandria. I&#039;m always partial to these because of the fact that Hadrian traveled to Egypt and took a voyage down the Nile to the spot where Antinous was drowned at El Sheikh el Bada - just across the river from the neat town of Hermopolis Magna (now called El-Ashmunein) and the seat of the primary temple of Thoth. Antinopolis, the city founded by Hadrian to commemorate his lover, reached its peak around the time of Alexander Severus and then began a slow decline. The marble buildings were ransacked in the 19th century to build sugar cane kilns, which is the primary crop in the area. Locals believe the site is haunted by evil jinn, which explains why almost nobody visits the site anymore.</p><p><br /></p><p>I did in 2011, though. Had a nice time in El-Ashmunein as I rented a donkey that took me from the train station to the site of Thoth&#039;s temple. Virtually nothing is left except two giant statues of baboons, inscribed in hieroglyphics, spanning either side of the temple&#039;s entrance. Smoked a shisha pipe with the guards and enjoyed their hospitality, tea was served.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]854136[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]854137[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Type: AE Drachm, 32mm 24.42 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>Obverse: AVT KAI TPAI AAPIA CEB, Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right</p><p><br /></p><p>Reverse: LDW (delta) EK in exergue, Nilos reclining left upon a crocodile, holding cornucopia and reed, Genius emerging from the cornucopia and pointing at letters IS in upper field</p><p><br /></p><p>Reference: Milne 1269[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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