Show Us Your (Alexandrian) Tets

Now I know what I need to look for!

 

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In University, my Fraternity's patron Goddess was Athena-Nike. I super-pounded mega-quantities of Barley-Pop to them!

 

I agree with that sentiment. I catalog all my Provincials by ruler and date except I have a code for all the Alexandrians together because I consider them a separate unit. I know there are those who believe that all Provincials should be sorted by city rather than ruler but I avoid that because of the huge number of different cities and the fact that I am more likely to want to find a coin by a ruler.

 

A K M AVΡ ΠΡOBOC CEB
A(VTOKPATΩP) K(AICAP) M(APKOC) AVΡ(HΛIOC) ΠΡOBOC CEB(ACTOC)
Imperator Caesar Marcus Aurelius Probus Augustus
Emmett 3991

Pretty sure your rev. shows eagle sanding right (his tail feathers are pointing l.) which makes it Emmett 3982




Here is a left stander:


And a right stander:

pics from beastcoins.com

A K M OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB
A(VTOKPATΩP) K(AICAP) M(APKOC) OVA(ΛEPIOC) MAΞIMIANOC CEB(ACTOC)
Imperator Caesar Marcus Valerius Maximianus Augustus
Emmett 4147

 

Whoops. Thanks for the correction! I still have to make the “L” with my hands half the time hahahaha.

 

My wife asked me what I was doing - I said I was checking to see which way my tail feathers pointed. Nothing like a little Friday night dance.

 

I do like Alexandrian Tetradrachms, if I am not careful, I might start collecting these. A nice set @furryfrog02! I liked the reverse on this one, RY 2 was a rough year - Carus died in 283 leaving Carinus and Numerianus in charge - Numerian died in 284, and Diocletian after executing Numerianus' murderer was proclaimed emperor.

Egypt, Alexandria, Carinus, AD 283-284, BI Tetradrachm, 7.1g, Regnal Year 2 (AD 283/4)
Obv: A K MA KAPINOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right, slight drapery on far shoulder
Rev: L B (date) above, eagle standing left, head right, wreath in beak; flanked by two standards
Ref: Dattari 5596

 

That is a nice one @Sulla80. We do not have any of those three emperors yet in any type. I’ve seen a few Numerians but they are rather pricey. Perhaps a provincial is the way to go. I honestly don’t know much about their coinage yet.

 

Those are 3 excellent tets to add to your budding Alexandrian collection... as far as coin afflictions go, it's a great one to have!

I'll start with my newest one, a Titus tet that I got from @Mat last week.

Titus, Ruled 79-81 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 80/81 AD
Obverse: AYTOK TITOY KAIΣ OYEΣΠAΣIANOY ΣEB, laureate head right.
Reverse: OMO-NOIA, Homonoia seated left, holding olive branch; LΓ (RY 3 = 80/81 AD) in left field.
References: Emmett 233
Size: 23-26mm, 8.0g
Ex: Mat Collection (CoinTalk)
Notes: Extremely porous and crystalized making it lightweight due to conditions it was in prior to being discovered.

And now I'll share a handful I know you like:

Did someone say we needed to see a Numerian? This is the same reverse type as the Carinus @Alegandron showed...

Numerian, Ruled 283-284 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 283/284 AD
Obverse: A K M A NOVMEPIANOC KC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Athena seated left, holding Nike and sceptre; shield below chair, L-B across field RY 2.
References: Emmett 4013, Dattari 5607
Size: 19mm, 7.5g
Ex: The Reverend Willis McGill Collection (McGill was an American missionary stationed in Egypt, who started collecting there during World War I)


Severina, Wife of Aurelian (270-275 AD)
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck Year 7, 275 AD (Possibly as sole ruler)
Obverse: OVΛΠ CEYHΡINA CEB, draped bust of Severina right, wearing stephane.
Reverse: Athena seated left on shield, holding Nike and sceptre. ETOVC – Z (date) across fields (RY 7 = 275 AD).
References: Emmett 3963, Dattari 5498, Geissen 3106


Maximinus Thrax, Ruled 235-238 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 235/236 AD
Obverse: AVTO MAΞIMINOC ЄV CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm frond; before, LB, RY 2.
References: Emmett 3289, Dattari 4581
Size: 24mm, 13.34g
Ex: Roma E-Sale 41 (2/12/17), Lot #539; Holding History Auction 1 (6/1/19), Lot #214


Vespasian, Ruled 69-79 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck Year 2, 69/70 AD
Obverse: AVTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OVEΣΠAΣIANOV, laureate head right, date LB (year 2 = 69/70 AD) in lower-right field.
Reverse: Nike advancing left, holding wreath and palm.
References: Emmett 205, Dattari 360


Maximian, First Reign 286-305 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 287/288 AD
Obverse: A K M OYA MAΞIMIANOC CЄB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right.
Reverse: Nike advancing right, holding wreath and palm frond; L/Γ (RY 3) in right field; star in upper left.
References: Emmett 4147
Size: 20mm, 7.3g


And a few more of my favorites...

A sour-puss Trajan:

Trajan, Ruled 98-117 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 114/115 AD
Obverse: AVT TPAIAN API CEB ΓEPM ΔAKIK, laureate head right; star before.
Reverse: Draped bust of Zeus right, wearing taenia; L I-H, RY 18.
References: Emmett 395
Size: 23.5mm, 11.27g

The boy Sun-god himself:

Elagabalus, Ruled 218-222 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck Year 2, 218/219 AD
Obverse: A KAICAP MA AVP ANTωNINOC ЄY CЄB, laureate head right.
Reverse: Draped bust of Hermanubis right wearing modius/kalathos, palm-topped caduceus to right, date LB (year 2 = 218/219 AD) in left field.
References: Emmett 2935, Dattari 4117

A good wife:

Cornelia Salonina, Wife of Gallienus who ruled 253-268 AD
AE Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 264/265 AD
Obverse: KOPNHΛIA CAΛΩNЄINA CЄB, diademed and draped bust of Salonina right.
Reverse: Eirene standing left, holding olive branch and sceptre; palm before, IB/L (date), (RY 12 = 264/265 AD).
References: Köln 2969; Dattari 5331; Milne 4102; Emmett 3855
Size: 18mm, g
Notes: A very beautiful and intelligent woman, she was extremely loyal to her husband. Opinion is divided as to whether she was murdered in the purge of Gallienus’ family after his murder, or if she survived.

Nero with a black eye (or maybe someone pulled a black eye telescope prank on him?) and a woman with a fancy-dress elephant hat:

Nero, Ruled 54-68 AD
BL Tetradrachm, Egypt, Alexandria
Struck 65/66 AD
Obverse: NEPΩ KAIΣ ΣEB ΓEP AY, radiate bust right, wearing aegis.
Reverse: AΥTO-KΡA, draped bust of Alexandria right in elephant headdress, LIB in right field, RY 12.
References: Emmett 113/13, RPC 5289
Size: 26mm, 12.1g

 

I wasn't much into Alexandrian tets before CoinTalk, but now I love them. Here are a few of my favourites:

Severus Alexander as he grew up:



(^maybe this one doesn't count, as it was minted in Rome... ex dougsmit)

Tranquillina:


Claudius II:


Aurelian:


Maximianus (final year of Alexandrian tets... a neglected highlight IMO!)


And here's my newest one, which was tucked away in a group lot:

It's a Diocletian year 10 featuring Harpokrates (R5 in Emmett, #4053). The Greeks mistakenly took Harpokrates to be the god of silence and secrecy; really the hand-to-mouth gesture enacts the hieroglyph for child, referring to Horus as a child.

 

@Justin Lee - That Max Thrax is BEAUTIFUL! Well at least the reverse is...His face is something only a mother could love lol.

 

I bought this with no provenance. It is in high relief and the metal has a bit of silver in it.


EGYPT, Faustina Junior (147-175 AD), dated Regnal Year 12 of Antoninus Pius (147/8 AD), billon tetradrachm 22mm 13.61g
Obv: ΦΑVС[ΤΙΝΑ] СƐΒΑСΤΗ; Faustina II
Rev: L ΔωΔƐΚΑΤΟV; Eusebeia seated left, holding patera over lit altar, holding long scepter
RPC vol 4 #13632 (temporary; this coin pictured)

While researching it I found a photo of what must be the same coin as an alternate in RPC Online with the reference "Aiello". I know John Aiello collected Egyptian coins. I don't know if this came out of an auction or how it appeared in RPC.

 

Some really nice coins in this thread. I don't really actively pursue Alexandrian tets, but whenever I get one I find myself liking them more and more.

My most recent are these - this one of Claudius II came in an undescribed lot off eBay. It was a lot nicer than the photos led me to expect:



Egypt Potin Tetradrachm
Claudius II Gothicus
Year 2 (268-269 A.D.)
Alexandria Mint
AVT K KΛAVΔIOC CEB, laureate and cuirassed bust right / L-B left, Dikaiosyne seated left holding scales and cornucopiae.
Geissen 3034; Dattari 5386.
(9.46 grams / 19 mm)

From the same lot, not as nice, but greener:


Egypt Potin Tetradrachm
Maximianus
Year 4 (289-290 A.D.)
Alexandria Mint
AKMA OVA MAΞMIANOC CEB, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. / Eagle standing left, head right wreath in beak; star in left field, L-Δ across.
Milne 4921; Emmett 4108.
(9.20 grams / 18 mm)

 

I guess David Sear agrees with you: he includes coins minted in Alexandria in his Roman Coin Values volumes, in a separate section at the end of each emperor's listings, rather than classifying them as Roman Provincial coins and relegating them to his Greek Imperial Coins catalogue.

 

Great find! Congratulations!

 

This thread needs MORE Faustina II! This one is a year 12, like @Ed Snible 's. I like the way it spells out twelve, rather than uses numerals.


Faustina Jr, AD 161-175.
Billon Tetradrachm, 13.82 g, 23.2 mm.
Alexandria, AD 148/9.
Obv: ΦΑΥCΤΙΝΑ CЄΒΑCΤΗ, pearl-diademed and draped bust, right.
Rev: L ΔѠΔЄΚΑΤΟΥ (regnal year 12 of Antoninus Pius), Dikaiosyne seated left, holding scales and cornucopiae.
Refs: Köln 1944; Dattari 3238; BMC 1317; Emmett 1938.

 

Oooooooooooh, so many wonderful coins in this thread!!

Alexandrian tets seem to be an acquired taste. The dumpy flans with ragged edges and often crude art can be a turn-off.

Here's my first Alexandrian, a tet of A-Pi. It came in a small lot of four coins purchased for the other three. I thought this tet was hideous at first. The metal is porous and the engraving crude. In retrospect this is actually a very well struck and well preserved specimen from that period in Alexandrian coinage!


EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
year 11, CE 147/8
billion tetradrachm, 23 mm, 11.7 gm
Obv: ANTΩNINOC CEBEVCEB; laureate head of Antoninus Pius right
Rev: L ENΔ E KATOV; Dikaiosyne seated left, holding scales and cornucopia
Ref: Emmett 1377.11, R1 (common)

They grew on me. I had a half dozen more from a couple of large mixed lots and began warming to them. Then I bought a couple of large lots of only Alexandrian tets. They were later coins with common reverses but that was definitely the beginning of the addiction.

Other denominations crept in to my collection. Soon the real draw was the wide array of interesting reverses. Today I consider Alexandrians my main focus-- primarily ones with unusual scenes or syncretic deities.

Some of my better tets:


EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian
year 11, CE 126/7
billon tetradrachm, 26 mm, 12.6 gm
Obv: AVTKAITPAI AΔPIACEB; laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind
Rev: L ENΔ EKATOV: Canopus of Osiris right
Ref: Emmett 827.11, R3; Milne 1205


EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus
year 4, CE 163/4
tetradrachm, 24 mm, 13.51 gm
Obv: ΛAVPHΛI OVHPOCCEB; bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust left
Rev: Radiate and draped bust of Serapis-Pantheos right, wearing calathus and horn of Ammon; trident behind shoulder; ∆/L in right field
Ref: Emmett 2360 (4), R1; Köln 2148; Dattari (Savio) 9420; K&G 39.77


EGYPT, Alexandria. Aelius
137 CE
Billon tetradrachm; 23 mm, 13.16 gm
Obv: ΛAIΛIOCKAICAP; bare head right
Rev: ΔHM EΞOVC VΠAT B; Homonoia standing left, holding cornucopiae and patera over garlanded altar
Ref: Köln 1271; Milne 1539; Emmett 1350.2
Ex John A. Seeger Collection
Gift from my CoinTalk Secret Saturn, 2018 (@Theodosius)


EGYPT, Alexandria. Aquilia Severa
year 5, CE 221/2
tetradrachm, 23.5 mm, 11.57 gm
Obv: draped bust right
Rev: head of Zeus Ammon right; L-E
Ref: Emmett 3025.5, R3; Geissen 2376; Dattari 4186


EGYPT, Alexandria. Julia Mamaea
year 13, CE 233/4
tetradrachm, 24 mm, 14.36 gm
Obv: IOVMAMAIACEBMHTECEKCTPA; Draped bust right, wearing stephane
Rev: Serapis enthroned left, holding scepter, extending his right hand toward Cerberus seated at his feet; on throneback, Nike standing right, holding wreath and palm frond; L IΓ (date) to left, palm frond to right
Ref: Emmett 3226.13 (R4); Köln 2540; Dattari (Savio) 4517; K&G 64.119


EGYPT, Alexandria. Severus Alexander
year 12, CE 232/3
tetradrachm, 23 mm, 13.87 gm
Obv: AKAIMAAVPCEVAΛEΞANΔPOCEV; Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Alexandria standing facing, head left, holding vexillum and grain ears; palm frond to left, L IB (date) to right
Ref: Emmett 3088.12 (R4); Köln 2474 var. (obv. legend); Dattari (Savio) 4264; K&G 62.172 var. (same)


EGYPT, Alexandria. Diocletian
year 11, CE 294/5
tetradrachm, 19 mm, 7.6 gm
Obv: ΔIOKΛHTIANOCCEB; laureate head right
Rev: Draped bust of Selene right, crescent before; L IA behind
Ref: Emmett 4080.11, R5


EGYPT, Alexandria. Philip II as Caesar
Regnal year 4 of Philip I, CE 246/7
billion tetradrachm, 22 mm, 12.8 gm
Obv: MIOVΦIΛIΠΠOCKCEB; cuirassed bust right, bare head
Rev: Hermanubis standing facing, head right, winged caduceus in right arm and palm branch in left hand; jackal (looking more like Disney's Pluto) left at feet; L-Δ
Ref: Emmett 3592.4(Caesar); Milne 3676; Dattari-Savio pl. 264, 5079


EGYPT, Alexandria. Elagabalus
tetradrachm, 24 mm, 13.27 gm
regnal year 4
Obv: laureate head right
Rev: Elagabalus standing right and empress (Aquilia Severa or Annia Faustina) standing left, each holding scepter, clasping right hands; L ∆ across field
Ref: Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 4098; K&G 56.43; Emmett 2929.4 (R4)

Can't stop now... I'll drop a few non-tets in the next post .

 

All I can say is "Wow!" Every one of those is amazing!

 

I’m glad this thread is getting some top-notch love. I know my humble three tets are pretty common and not all that interesting, but I’m glad to see there is interest in the type. Definitely more than I thought there’d be.

 

Here's a sampling of other Alexandrian denominations, many with unusual reverses.

Drachm (a nice large canvas for interesting scenes!):


EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian
year 18, CE 133/4
Æ drachm, 26.4 gm
Obv: AYT KAIC TPAIAN (A∆PIANOC CEB), laureate and draped bust right
Rev: Canopic jars facing; L I H across fields
Ref: Emmett 933.18, R1


Egypt, Alexandria. Trajan
AE drachm, 32.07 mm, 18.28 gm, 1 h
Regnal year 15 (111/12 CE)
Obv: [AVT T]PAIAN C-ЄB ΓЄ[PM ΔAKIK]; laureate bust of Trajan right, drapery on left shoulder
Rev: Harpocrates of Canopus with hindparts of a crocodile, standing left, pointing finger at mouth and holding cornucopiae; LI - E across field
Ref: Emmett 500.15; Milne 659
ex Tom Buggey Collection


EGYPT. Alexandria. Trajan
AE drachm, 33.5 mm, 22.09 g
Uncertain regnal year
Obv: [AYT] TPAIANCE BΓEPM∆AKIK; Laureate bust of Trajan to right
Rev: Triptolemos in a chariot drawn right by two winged Agathodaemon serpents
Ref: Emmett 601; RPC III 4336.4


Antoninus Pius/Serapis-Agathodaemon


EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
year 14, CE 150/1
AE drachm, 34 mm, 28.8 gm
Obv: Laureate bust of Antoninus Pius left
Rev: Triptolemos driving biga of winged serpents right; L IΔ above
Ref: Emmett 1683.14


EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian
RY 14 (CE 94/5)
Æ drachm, 36 mm, 25.42 gm
Obv: Laureate head right
Rev: The Emperor driving biga of centaurs right., raising hand and holding scepter and reins; in exergue, L IΔ
Ref: Dattari-Savio Pl. 17, 453 (this coin); Geissen 406 (this coin cited); RPC 2704 (this coin cited)
ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)


Antoninus Pius/Isis-Sothis


EGYPT. Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
AE drachm; 31 mm, 16.76 gm
Regnal year 18 (154/5 CE)-- probable date
Obv: [ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟС СЄΒ ЄVC]; laureate bust right
Rev: The Harbor of Alexandria: Isis Euploia standing left, holding grain ears and rudder; to left, prow above Euthenia seated right, propping herself up on hand; to right, stern above Nilus reclining left, holding rudder; L I/H (date) to upper right.
Ref: Emmett 1589.18; RPC IV online 13846; Dattari (Savio) 8772; K&G 35.661.

Other-drachm (Tetra-? Hex-? Octo-? The jury is out):


EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitius Domitianus
RY 2 (297-8 CE)
potin tetradrachm/hexagram/othergram; 9.56 gm, 23 mm
Obv: ΔOMITIANOCCEB; laureate head right
Rev: draped bust of Serapis to right, LB left and palm to right
Ref: Dattari 6186; Emmett 4242

Diobol

Agathodaemon riding a horse, yeeHAH and giddyup! Gawd I love this coin!

EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian. Regnal year 10, CE 90/91. Æ diobol (25mm, 10.86 g, 12h). AVT KAICAP ΔΟ ΜΙΤ CEB ΓΕΡΜ, laureate head right / Agathodaemon serpent, wearing the skhent crown (emblematic of upper and lower Egypt), on horseback galloping left; L I (date) below. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G 24.109; RPC II 2585; SNG Copenhagen 214; Emmett 277.10 (R5).

Ex Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex West Coast/Lloyd Beauchaine Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 41, 19 March 1997), lot 1110; Classical Numismatic Review Vol. XVI, No. 1 (January 1991), lot 316; Numismatic Fine Arts Fall Mail Bid Sale (18 October 1990), lot 2365.

Appearances: Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 39 (this coin). Obverse illustrated in Emmett as the header for the Domitian section, p. 24 (this coin); fully illustrated in Emmett, p. 26 (this coin, discussing the unusual reverse).


EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius
AE diobol, 22.8 mm, 8.33 gm
RY 17 (176/7 CE)
Obv: MAVPHΛIOCANTωNINOC; laureate head right
Rev: right foot and ankle (of a statue of Serapis?), pointing right; draped bust right of Serapis above, wearing kalathos; LI[Z] in right field
Ref: Dattari (Savio) 3516; Emmett 2254.17 (this coin illustrated, p. 96); K&G 37.411 (this coin illustrated). Extremely rare. None in CoinArchives.
Ex WRG Collection
Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Part II, Classical Numismatic Auctions XIII, 4 December 1990), lot 130.


EGYPT, Alexandria. Nero
Regnal year 14 (CE 67/8)
AE diobol; 27 mm, 10.9 gm
Obv: NEPΩKΛAVK[AIΣΣEBΓEPA]; laureate head right
Rev: L - IΔ; "vase" (Emmett), or "oinochoe" per others (others are probably correct)
Ref: Dattari-Savio Pl. 1, 2 (this coin); Dattari cf 286; RPC 5322; Emmett 153.14; Poole (BM, 1892) cf 188?
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/more-to-this-than-meets-the-eye.309276/


EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius
year 12, CE 171/2
AE diobol, 22 mm, 7.53 gm
Obv: [MAV]PHΛIOC ANTω[ΝΙΝΟCCE]; laureate bust right
Rev: Uraeus serpent erect left, wearing headdress; "holding" sistrum and grain ear; LI - B across upper fields
Ref: Dattari 3605 and Pl. XXXII, 3605 (this coin). Dattari-Savio Pl. 193, 3605 (this coin); Geissen --; Emmett 2260.12, R5
ex Dattari collection (Giovanni Dattari, 1858-1923)

Obol

Isis-Thermouthis (head and torso of Isis on a serpent's body):

EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian
AE obol, 20 mm, 5 gm
regnal year 10, CE 90/91
Obv: laureate head right
Rev: AVTKAIΣAPOMITIANOΣΣEBΓEPM; Isis-Thermouthis standing right; LI in right field
Ref: Emmett 321.10, R5; RPC 2593; Geissen 376

A sphinx... perhaps the Great Sphinx of Giza:

EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius as Caesar
AE obol, 20.5 mm, 6.0 gm. Alexandria.
Year 15 (CE 151/2)
Obv: MAVPHΛICKAICAP; bust right, bare head
Rev: Sphinx reclining right; LIE (date) above in left field
Ref: Emmett 1919.15, R5; Dattari 3221; RPC IV online 15684


EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius
year 20, CE 156/7
AE obol, 18 mm, 4.36 gm
Obv: laureate head right
Rev: sphinx crouched/reclining left; L K above
Ref: Emmett 1782.20 (unlisted reverse for year 20); unlisted in Geissen and Dattari

Dichalkon


EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan
year 17, 113/4 AD
AE dichalkon
Obv: Laureate head right
Rev: rhino standing left; LIZ above
Ref: Emmett 719v(17) R5, BMC 500
Emmett rates these as R5 but I've seen many of them for sale. I think it's R1 or R2 in the real world.