Rare Marcus Aurelius Lion diobol - finest known

One thing that is cool about Alexandrian coins is the sheer variety of interesting reverse types. With Rome, about 70% are all standing/seated god/goddesses; but at Alexandria they were more creative. We see types with distinctive and exotic Egyptian iconography; Egyptian religious types; whole series depicting the Labors of Hercules and the Zodiac; coins depicting buildings, temples, and notably – the Lighthouse of Alexandria.

The Alexandrians also struck many coins depicting animals. Hippos, ibises, elephants, rhinos, bulls, frogs, snakes, crocodiles, and more all feature on the coinage. Alexandria is a rich source for those who enjoy, as I do, collecting coins with animals!

I’m still on the lookout for a nice crocodile (must be without the solar disc) and frog; but I did manage to recently add this very nice lion to the menagerie. It’s not only a rare type – I could only find ten other specimens online – but it is unquestionably the finest of them all. In fact, it is in remarkable condition for any Alexandrian coin.

I didn’t make a “Top Ten” thread this year, but if I had, this one would probably have been up near the top. It is now the featured specimen cited on RPC Online.

Hope you enjoy and feel free to comment and/or post your own Alexandrian coins, animal coins, or anything else relevant!

EGYPT, ALEXANDRIA
Time of Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180
AE Diobol (23.7mm, 8.53g, 12h)
Struck AD 175/6
Obverse: Μ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ, laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius right
Reverse: L ΙϚ above lion walking left
References: RPC Online IV.4 3290 (this coin featured); Dattari 3595; Emmett 2245.16; RCV 5175
Medium brown patina. Superbly struck and unquestionably the finest known specimen of this rare type.​