Hi Gang, I have a bunch of coins I'm going through and identifying but these three are Greek to me..and I'm not so good at Greek! This one looks like Antoninus Pius... but from where? The next two I have no clue Thanks for any help you can give Richard
All three are nice coins but I really like the Nero which is year three, the first year for Nero at Alexandria and bears a nice, young portrait. The reverse is the serpent god Agathodaemon. As a general rule, coins with no legend on the reverse except for L followed by a Greek numeral date (here gamma=3) are Alexandrian but this is a bit unusual in that it has a clear legend at the top ΝΕΟΑΓΑΘΔΑΙΜ identifying the reverse figure. Emmett 106 lists it as a common coin but it is one I would love to own.
The first, Hadrian, has a relatively clear legend (ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟC is at right - AVT KAI TRAI at left). The reverse is Demeter with grain, poppies and torch. It is also a tetradrachm but has a nice dark tone. The date LKA (year 21) is late and this is one of only a couple tet types struck that year. The last half of Hadrian's reign, Alexandria really cut back on the number of types used each year resulting with fewer, but more common, types. I also consider this a nice coin but just not as interesting as the first.
The second coin is Gallienus year four and by far my last choice among the three. The billon used this late was pretty terrible and not at all silver looking. I believe it is Homonoia Emmett 3734 but some of the reverse damage has weakened devices. Despite that, the full legends are better than many. I wonder if the damage is where bronze disease was removed so I would watch this one to be sure it does not form the green rot near the eroded areas.
