Alexandrian Billon/Potin Tetradrachms are great, but I've also been adding Drachms and other bronzes over time. The AE Drachms are roughly comparable in size (and function) to a Roman Imperial Sestertius. Since the Alexandrian Tetradrachm is comparable to the Imperial Denarius, which is the equivalent of four Sestertii. (And which makes the Hemidrachms comparable to Imperial Dupondii, the Diobols / Asses, Obols / Semisses, and Chalkoi/Hemiobols / Quadrantes.) The Drachms are hefty and impressive coins in hand (~33-35mm, 18-27g): They are especially common from the reigns of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. With beveled/rounded edges (a carryover from the technology of the Alexandrian mint under the Ptolemies). So, the reverse die can be a bit larger, the obverse legend can occasionally get a bit crowded. The portraits aren't usually quite as nice as Imperial Sestertii, but artistic enough, with lots of interesting variety: I also find the bronzes interesting for their reverses. Including maybe a somewhat broader range of reverse legends than the Tetradrachms? (Most Alexandria Tetradrachms' rev. legends are just "L" -- occasionally "ETOVC" -- + numeral for the date.) The middle right coin is Aelius. The reverse legend "ΔHM • ЄΞOY C • VΠAT • B •" (abbreviating "ΔΕΜAPXIKHC ΕΞΟVCIAC ΥΠΑΤOC TO Β") is a Greek equivalent of the titulature on his Imperial coinage legend, "TR PO T COS II" (“Tribunicia Potestas Consul Secundus”). The small central Hadrian coin (pierced) is an Obol from one of the "Nomes" -- administrative districts of Egypt for which sort of commemorative coins were struck every so often (probably at the Alexandria mint). That one names the Athribis Nome: "AΘP-IB" (and LIA for Year 11 of Hadrian). Shown on the reverse is Khuit-Hathor, or just Khuit, the local, Hellenized version of Hathor. Nice mix of Greek, Roman, and Egyptian religious symbolism. You can also see Hadrian & Antoninus' years spelled out for 10 (ΔЄΚΑΤΟV), 12 (ΔⲰΔЄΚΑTOV), 19 (ЄNNЄ-AKΔ). The enigmatic "ΒΑΛΑΝΗΟΥ" legend is worn away on my specimen on the unusual type of Trajan's Year 12, which has puzzled authors for well over a century (RPC III 4287.1 has a few paragraphs briefly summarizing the issue in the Note here): Sometimes the Drachms are pierced twice, usually in the fields at about 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock on the reverse. The orientation makes it clear they were meant to face with the reverse outward. (They're sometimes called "amulets," and have been reported as being used in 2nd century Egyptian funerary or grave decorations.) I also think of this as part of my "bibliographic collection of ancient coins." They all represent various notable collections and most are "plate coins" used in Alexandrian reference volumes. Seven are in RPC with additional collection/publication history: RPC III, 4287.3/5 ; RPC III 5294/2 ; RPC III, 5352/9 ; RPC III, 6058/3 (primary) ; RPC III 6466/44 ; RPC III 6242/33 ; RPC IV.4, 1283/5 ; the last two specimens absent from RPC. The following "old collections" (and newer collections) are represented in these 9 coins (including 1 or 2 cointalkers): G. Dattari (1853-1923); K. Wetterstrom; August Voirol (1884-1967); Hans Steger (1875-1937); Frank Sternberg (Collection?); Virginia Ruzicka (1915-1984); Johns Hopkins University (post. add. to Garrett Collection by Carl Carlson); Jean-Pierre Righetti; Eric ten Brink [ETB, @Okidoki ] (1968 -; Alfred W. Kowsky (b. 1948); "Morris" Collection (Phil Peck, b. c. 1941/2); "AK Collection"; "Rhakotis Collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s." Four of them are ex-Giovanni Dattari (1853-1923) Collection, illustrated in Savio's volume of his collection rubbings, and at least two in Figari & Mosconi's (2017) volume illustrating Duemila Monete Della Collezione Dattari. The top right coin was also included as one of the plate coins in Dattari's 1901 Catalogo completo della collezione Dattari Numi Augg. Alexandrini: The two pierced coins are ex AK Collection and "plate coins" in Kellner's (2009) Münzstätte die Alexandria in Ägypten: The Trajan and the Antoninus Griffin are from the Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (among others) and were used as plate coins in Kampmann & Ganshow (2008) Die Münzen der römischen Münzstätte Alexandria: And other secondary citations (unillustrated) to various other Alexandrian coin books and articles. Sometimes finding copies of the books is harder than finding the "plate coins"! (For Dattari-Savio 2007, the coins outnumber the book copies about 13,200 to 250, or 12,700 to 500 if you count the earlier 1999 edition.) Anyone else have any Alexandrian Bronzes or anything you find relevant to share?
I've always found them appealing but have always come up short in my attempts to win one at auction. I particularly like that top row, middle example with the dark contrasting toning.
Great coins! I love coins from Alexandria. The drachms are much sought after and can get expensive fast even if in very worn condition if the reverse is interesting. As a result, most of mine are pretty ugly. Here’s one of my favorites… not only is the temple cool but it seems to be a flip over double strike on the obverse. Trajan Alexandria. Year 15, 111-112 AD. Obv: AVT TRAIAN CEB GERM DAKIK, laureate bust right, with aegis. Rev: Sarapis standing left, holding sceptre within distyle temple, stele at his feet. Date LI-E across fields. Köln 590; Milne 670; Emmett 581. https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coin/345346
Loving the griffin as Nemesis coin and am wanting to add one to my collection. Great write up. I've got a few Tetradrachms, but no drachmas.
Thanks! Possibly my favorite (or tied for it). When it was still in the Al Kowsky (AWK) Collection he made a post about it here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/egyptian-drachm-with-a-provenance.354986/#post-4111695 And shared it in another post on Griffins as representations of Nemesis (a connection first popularized for these coins by its prior collector, Kerry Wetterstrom): https://www.cointalk.com/threads/griffins-as-representations-of-nemesis.374292/ One nice thing about that coin, when I bought it, AWK included his copy of Joel Malter's 1984 Auction Catalog for the Virginia Ruzicka Collection. It's an important sale, hard to find, and I have a collection of ancient coin auction catalogs, so that was a great addition:
Roman Alexandrian drachms are my favourites, with their charming portraits, honest wear and heft, and of course all those unusual reverse scenes!
I don't have any Roman-era drachms, yet. Someday I'd like to get a nice example with the Lighthouse of Alexandria, if I can find one in acceptable condition that's still affordable!
Curtis, beautiful coins with an interesting province. Especially from Nomes - as far as I know they are very rare! I have also recently become interested in the coinage of Roman Egypt and I am focusing more on bronze coins. Unfortunately, in Poland there is very rarely an opportunity to buy. Bronze coins from Roman Egypt i think are mostly scarce or rare. I managed to get a few coins (rather in worse condition and without province), but they are still pleasing to the eye and hand.
