The Nile River, since at least the time of Herodotus, was an object of fascination for the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. Herodotus speculated as to the source of the Nile and remarked that "Egypt is the Gift of the Nile" as otherwise there would be minimal life in the country, either flora or fauna due to the extreme paucity of rainfall. Mosaic of Palestrina, depicting Egypt and the Nile. (public domain) Of the Nile, the Roman geographer Strabo remarks: "Now according to him [Eratosthenes] the Nile is nine hundred or a thousand stadia distant towards the west from the Arabian Gulf, and is similar in shape to the letter N written reversed; and the other is called Astapus, though some call it Astasobas and say that another river, which flows from some lakes in the south, is the Astapus and that this river forms almost all the straight part of the body of the Nile, and that it is filled by the summer rains. The lower parts of the country on either side of Meroê, along the Nile towards the Red Sea, are inhabited by Megabari and Blemmyes, who are subject to the Aethiopians and border on the Aegyptians, and, along the sea, by Troglodytes (the Troglodytes opposite Meroê are a ten or twelve days' journey distant from the Nile), but the parts on the left side of the course of the Nile, in Libya, are inhabited by Nubae, a large tribe, who, beginning at Meroê, extend as far as the bends of the river, and are not subject to the Aethiopians but are divided into several separate kingdoms. The extent of Aegypt along the sea from the Pelusiac to the Canopic mouth is one thousand three hundred stadia. This, then, is what Eratosthenes says." Here is a coin of Hadrian depicting Nilos, the personification of the river, on a bronze drachm... Egypt, Alexandria - Hadrian. (117-138) Year 127-128 Type: AE Drachm, 32mm 24.42 grams Obverse: AVT KAI TPAI AAPIA CEB, Laureate draped and cuirassed bust right 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 Reference: Milne 1269 Please post any relevant coins featuring the Nile, Nilos, or Aegyptos...
Wonderful write-up, @ancient coin hunter! I like the coin, and love that mosaic. It really brings the past to life. Your coin is a very interesting type. The letters "IS" in the upper part of the reverse field actually represent the number 16, with I standing for 10 and the S (really an ϛ, either a "stigma" or "final sigma" depending on what you read) standing for 6. Usually such numbers on Roman Egyptian coins, preceded by "L," represent the regnal year, but on this coin the regnal year is written out in the exergue, as L ΔWΔƐΚ, meaning the 12th year of Hadrian's reign. Therefore, the 16 refers instead to 16 cubits, the ideal flood depth for the Nile. See the Heritage description of a similar type (except that Nilus rests on a hippo instead of a crocodile) at https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8680442: "Although the regnal year is typically found in the fields on the reverse for Roman Egyptian coinage, on this issue the numeral in the central field represents 16 cubits on the Nilometer - the gauge which measured the annual flood crest of the Nile. Sixteen was the ideal level for agriculture in the Nile valley, whereas lower brought the danger of drought conditions, and much higher posed the possibility of damaging floods." See also the Harlan J. Berk example, at https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=8935052, pointing out that RPC "unfortunately includes under the same catalogue number both of the main variants of this type, Nilus reclining on hippopotamus and Nilus reclining on crocodile," at RPC III 5717 (see https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5717). So that's what the genius is pointing to! Berk notes that RPC "also leaves out mention of the genius on the cornucopia in its description of the type." (Id.) It's understandable that reference to the genius is often omitted; I can't really see it on your example or on many of the others at the RPC III 5717 link, even though I believe that all the types with the number Iϛ (16) in the reverse field are supposed to have the genius emerging from the cornucopiae and pointing to that number. See the Milne index at p. 144 col. 2, under the entry for "Nilus reclining." One way to tell the difference is that the usual depictions of Nilus on the reverse of Roman Egyptian coins (such as my Year 22 tetradrachm with Nilus seated and a crocodile beneath him, shown below) show Nilus with a cornucopiae in his left hand, behind him, and a reed in his right hand, in front of him. Your specimen, and all the other specimens of drachmae with Iϛ in the field and a genius pointing to it, show Nilus with the reed in his left hand behind him, whereas the cornucopiae with genius emerging is in his right hand, in front of him, so that the genius can point directly at the number. By the way, Milne 1269 is not the correct number, because that type has neither the number 16 nor the genius. (See Milne p. 31, footnoted with the reverse code "a1," and the index entry for a1 at p. 144 col. 1 under Nilus reclining.) The correct number is probably Milne 1264. (See Milne p. 31, footnoted with the reverse code "c1," and the index entry for c1 at p. 144 col. 2 under Nilus reclining, describing it as "cornucopiae in right hand, reed in left: from cornucopiae issues genius with staff in right hand, pointing with left [hand] at letters Iϛ in field.) If it isn't Milne 1264, then it's Milne 1266, also at Milne p. 31, with the reverse code "c4," and the index entry at p. 144 col. 2 describing that code as "similar to c1, but genius degraded into conical mass." In any event, here are some Nile-related coins of my own: Nilus: Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 19 (134/135 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate bust left, slight drapery; ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ Τ[ΡΑΙΑΝ] - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ (clockwise from upper right) [bracketed portion off flan] / Rev. Slightly draped bust of Nilus right, crowned with taenia and lotus-buds, cornucopiae behind right shoulder; L ЄN NЄAKΔ [= Year 19 spelled out] (clockwise from lower left). RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 5941 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5941 ; Köln 1147 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band II (Hadrian-Antoninus Pius) (Cologne, 1978, corrected reprint 1987)]; Dattari (Savio) 7450-1 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]; K&G 32.619 [Kampmann, Ursula & Ganschow, Thomas, Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria (2008)]; Milne 1449 at p. 35 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; Emmett 875.19 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]. 24.5 mm., 13.10 g., 12 h. Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 22 (137/138 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate bust right, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙϹ ΤΡΑ - ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟϹ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Nilus seated* left on rocks, crowned with lotus-buds, wearing himation around legs and over left arm, holding reed in right hand and cornucopiae in left; crocodile below climbing up rocks; L KB (Year 22) in left field. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 6254 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/6254; Emmett 879.22 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Milne 1570 at p. 37 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; Köln.1241 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band II (Hadrian-Antoninus Pius) (Cologne, 1978, corrected reprint 1987)]. 24 mm., 12.9 g. *As distinct from the more common reclining Nilus seen on @ancient coin hunter's example. Hadrian Aegyptos, from his Travel Series: Hadrian AR Denarius, 136 AD, Travel Series, Rome Mint. Obv: HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P, bare head right / Rev: AEGYPTOS, Egypt reclining left, holding sistrum in right hand and resting left arm on basket; to left, ibis standing right. RIC II.3 1482 (2019 ed.), old RIC II 297d (1926 ed.), RSC II 99, Sear RCV II 3456, BMCRE 801-3, Foss 95 at p. 118 (dating Hadrian’s travels in Egypt to AD 130) [Clive Foss, Roman Historical Coins (Seaby, London, 1990)]. 18 mm., 3.11 g., 7 hr. This coin also relates to the Nile: Hadrian, Billon Tetradrachm, Year 11 (126/127 AD), Alexandria, Egypt Mint. Obv. Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from rear, ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ - ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ ϹƐΒ / Rev. Canopic Jar of Osiris (a/k/a Osiris-Canopus Jar and Osiris-Hydreios)* facing right, surmounted by Atef crown above ram[?] horns; body of jar with decorations including disk and horns below right, walking male figure to left; L ΕΝΔ - EKATΟΥ [= Year 11 spelled out]. RPC [Roman Provincial Coinage] Vol. III 5640 (2015); RPC III Online at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5640; Köln 939 [Geissen, A., Katalog alexandrinischer Kaisermünzen, Köln, Band II (Hadrian-Antoninus Pius) (Cologne, 1978, corrected reprint 1987)]; Milne 1205 at p. 30 [Milne, J.G., Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins (Oxford 1933, reprint with supplement by Colin M. Kraay, 1971)]; Emmett 827.11 [Emmett, Keith, Alexandrian Coins (Lodi, WI, 2001)]; Dattari (Savio) 1327 [Savio, A. ed., Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini (Trieste, 2007)]. 25 mm., 13.41 g. (Purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd., 212th Buy or Bid Sale, August 2020, Lot 497.) *See https://egypt-museum.com/post/189683370661/osiris-canopus-jar#gsc.tab=0, with photos of the Osiris-Canopus Jar from Hadrian’s Villa, now at the Vatican Museum, describing it as “A Canopic jar with the head of Osiris emerging from it. In the cult of Isis and Serapis, during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Osiris-Canopus jars (also known as Osiris-Hydreios) were carried by priests during processions. As they are solid, each symbolically carried water from the Nile, fertility that originated from the god Osiris, one of Egypt’s earliest fertility gods. Osiris-Canopus was named after the ancient Egyptian town of Canopus, on the western bank at the mouth of the westernmost branch of the Delta known as the Canopic or Heracleotic branch – not far from Alexandria. Roman Period, ca. 131-138 AD. Grey basalt, from Hadrian’s Villa. Now in the Vatican Museums (Gregoriano Egizio). 22852.”
Thanks for the nice article in response Donna. And for the further edification about my coin! You have a number of great coins as well...
@ancient coin hunter...A very nice coin!....Thanks for the interesting write up.. Antoninus Pius, 138 - 161 AD Billon Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria Mint, 23mm, 11.94 grams Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Antoninus right. Reverse: Nilus reclining left holding reed and cornucopia from which emerges Genius, crocodile below. Emmett 1413.13 // Dattari 2294 // Koln 1594 // K&G 35.426
Titus (79 - 81 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: AVTOK TITOV KAIΣ OYEΣΠAΣIANOY ΣEBA, laureate head right. R: [NIΛOΣ], bust of Nilus with lotus flower, LΓ=year 3 (80/81 A.D.). 24mm 11.4g RPC II 2466 (4 spec.)., Dattari 425, Emmett 234.3 Severus Alexander (222 - 235 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: Α ΚΑΙ ΜΑΡ ΑΥΡ СƐΥ ΑΛƐΞΑΝΔΡΟС ƐΥ laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Severus Alexander, r., seen from rear. R: Nilus bust r., draped and wearing lotus wreath; to l., cornucopia on shoulder, r.; in front, palm branch L I = 10 Alexandria Mint 23mm 13.7g Emmett 3122.10 (R3), Milne 3031; Dattari 4331 Hadrian (117 - 138 A.D.) Egypt, Alexandria Billon Tetradrachm O: ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ - ΑΔΡΙΑ СƐΒ, laureate head of Hadrian, r., drapery on l. shoulder; to r crescent. R: Nilus reclining on crocodile, l., holding reed and cornucopia L Ϛ = year 6 (121/22 A.D.) 23.5mm 13.7g http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/3/5335/
Hi All, I am blessed with several to choose from for this thread. The first is from CNG-Auction #35 (20 Sep 1995). - Broucheion
Antoninus Pius Nilus from Alexandria EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm Dated RY 13 (AD 149/150). Laureate bust right, slight drapery / Nilus reclining left, holding reed and cornucopia from which emerges a Genius who crowns Nilus with a wreath; [L] TPICKAI (date) to left, Iς above, crocodile below. Köln 1638; Dattari (Savio) 2751 & 8632; K&G 35.476; Emmett 1621.13. VF,
Sorry, not a coin but the Nile itself last month. The first photo is from our hotel in Giza looking across the Nile to Cairo. The second is a felucca sailing near Thebes. Egypt has always been one of those “bucket list” trips for me and it did not disappoint. The ancient art is just unbelievable! If you have never seen Egypt, you absolutely must.
Hadrian (117-138). Egypt, Alexandria. AE Drachm (33.5 mm - 23.98 gr.). d bust of Hadrian graduated, draped and armored on the right r / Nile lying on a crocodile, on the left, holding a cornucopia and a cane.
I agree. On my last trip to Egypt I spent three months there, sandwiched between trips to Jordan and Turkey. There is always more to see and I encourage folks to get off the beaten track and observe the monuments and remains which literally are sprinkled all around country - from Siwa Oasis in the Libyan desert to the Valley and Sinai. Some interesting places I visited in addition to the major temples and tombs included Coptos (Qift), Hermopolis Magna (El-Ashmunein), Hermonthis (Armant), Antinopolis (Sheik el-Balad), Chenoboskion (Nag Hammadi), etc. The chronological range was Old Kingdom to Byzantine and Islamic periods.
Just a quick note - picked up another Nilos Hadrian type but in pristine condition. I'll post a pic when it arives.
