Augustus 27
B.C.—A.D. 14 |
|
2335 |
4th
series, 2 B.C.—A.D 14 |
|
Æ diobol
(7.15 gm). |
BMC
26v (filleted double cornucopiae, no
base). Dattari 55. Milne 21v (no base)
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Augustus r., ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟ ΟΣ |
Rev: ΣΕΒΑ— ΣΤΟΣ,
double cornucopia on base.
|
|
Livia wife
of Augustus |
|
2336 |
5th
series, A.D. 10/11 |
|
Æ diobol
(10.40 gm). |
Dattari
60 (Μ described
asΛΑ).
Cf. Milne 27 (LΜΑ).
BMC —.
|
Obv:
Draped bust of Livia r. |
Rev:
Athena standig facing, head l., holding
Nike and resting hand on shield, Date
L—Μ across
field.
|
|
Tiberius A.D.
14-37 |
|
2337 |
A.D.
17/18 |
|
Æ obol
(4.51 gm). |
Dattari
101. Milne 36. BMC 57.
|
Obv:
Bare head of Tiberius r. |
Rev: ΤΙΒΕΡΙΟΥ,
hippopotamus r., date L Ε in ex. |
|
2338 |
A.D.
19/20 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm |
Dattari
81. Milne 56. BMC 36. Curtis 1.
|
Obv:
Radiate head of Tiberius r. |
Rev:
Laureate head of Augustus r., date L Ζ |
Note: The
head of Divus Augustus was the sole
reverse type of Tiberius' billon
tetradrachms, introduced in his seventh
regnal year and issued irregularly
until the final six years of his
reign, when they were produced annually.
The propaganda content mirrors that
of Tiberius' middle aes from Rome,
which throughout his reign bore the
portrait of Divus Augustus on the
obverse.
|
|
2339
|
A.D.
26/27
|
|
Billon
tetradrachm
|
Dattari
81. Milne 56. BMC 41. Curtis —.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Tiberius l., date
L ΙΔ in front.
|
Rev:
Radiate head of Augustus r.
|
|
2340
|
A.D.
33/34
|
|
Billon
tetradrachm
|
Dattari
90v (littus on rev.). Milne 56. BMC
41. Curtis —.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Tiberius l., date
L ΚΑ in front.
|
Rev:
Radiate head of Augustus r.
|
|
Claudius A.D.
41-54
|
|
2341
|
A.D.
41/42
|
|
Billon
tetradrachm
|
Dattari
114. Milne 61. BMC 65. Curtis 8.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Claudius r., date
L Β in front.
|
Rev:
Draped bust of Antonia r.
|
Note:Claudius
continued to associate the billon
tetradrachm denomination with dynastic
types. He honored his mother Antonia
on the Alexandrian coinage of his
second regnal year only. Rome also
issued aurei and denarii in her name
in A.D. 41/2, and a dupondius coinage
from A.D. 41-43.
|
|
2342
|
A.D.
41/42
|
|
Billon
tetradrachm
|
Dattari
122. Milne 65. BMC 69. Curtis —.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Claudius r., date
L Β in front.
|
Rev:
Messalina standing three quarters left,
holding two children in extended r.
hand and stalks of grain in l. resting
l. elbow on column, lituus in l. field.
|
Note: The
major reverse type of Claudius' Alexandrian
tetradrachms featured his notorious
empress Messalina, who played no
role on his Rome coinage. Tetradrachms
with the Messalina reverse were minted
annually during the first six years
of Claudius' reign but then discontinued.
The reasons were probably monetary,
and the cessation of this coinage
in no way presages the disgrace of
Messalina in A.D. 48.
|
|
2343 |
A.D.
43/44 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.27 gm) |
Dattari
125. Milne 94 var. (lituus on rev.
to l.). BMC 73. Curtis 17.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Claudius r., date
L Δ in front.
|
Rev:
Messalina standing three quarters left,
holding two children in extended r.
hand and stalks of grain in l. resting
l. elbow on column.
|
|
2344 |
A.D.
51/52 |
|
Æ diobol
(8.77 gm.) |
Dattari
155. Milne —. BMC 91. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Claudius r. |
Rev:
[Α]ΥΤΟ—ΚΡΑ,
eagle standing r. on thunderbolt, head
reverted, date LΙΒ in field. |
|
Agrippina
Jr. wife of Claudius |
|
2345 |
A.D.
51/52 |
|
Æ diobol
(7.21 gm.) |
Dattari
178, pl. xiii. Milne 124. BMC 108, pl.
xxi. |
Obv:
Draped bust of Agrippina r., crowned
with grain. ΕΥΘΗ—ΝΙΑ across
field. |
Rev:
Draped bust of Euthenia r., crowned with
grain, date L—ΙΒ across
field. |
Note: Diobols
were issued in the name of Claudius'
new wife Agrippina in A.D. 51/2 and
52/3. The reverse type represents
Nilus' consort Euthenia, a harvest
goddess equivalent to the Roman Annona.
The Rome mint struck denarii for
Agrippina in A.D. 51 (see Kaenel
Type 50). The empress was depicted
on this coinage, as on the Alexandrian
diobols, wreathed with grain, implying
an assimilation to Ceres, or perhaps
Annona.
|
|
2346 |
A.D.
52/53 |
|
Æ diobol
(9.87 gm.) |
Dattari
179. Milne 127. BMC 110. |
Obv:
Draped bust of Agrippina r., crowned
with grain. ΕΥΘΗ—ΝΙΑ across
field. |
Rev:
Draped bust of Euthenia r., crowned with
grain, date L—ΙΓ across
field. |
|
Nero A.D.
54-68 |
|
2347 |
A.D.
56/57 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.05 gm) |
Dattari
186. Milne 131. BMC 116. Curtis 33. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nero r. |
Rev:
Draped bust of Agrippina Jr. r, date
LΕ in front. |
Note: Nero
struck no coins at Alexandria until
the third year of his reign. The
portrait of his mother Agrippina
constituted one of his regular reverse
types through year 5, her tenure
ending only with her murder in A.D.
59. At Rome, by contrast, she appeared
along with her son on the obverse
of aurei and denarii dated A.D. 54
and 55; but by the time production
began at Alexandria, she had disappeared
from the Rome coinage.
|
|
2348 |
A.D.
58/59 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.90 gm) |
Dattari
192. Milne 169. BMC —. Curtis 137. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nero r. |
Rev:
Draped bust of Octavia r., date LΕ in
front. |
Note: Octavia,
Nero's hapless first wife, was honored
on the reverses of his Alexandrian
tetradachms from his third through
sixth regnal years. This coinage
thus endured a short time after the
murder of Agrippina, but ceased several
years before the final dissolution
of the marriage in A.D. 62. Octavia
never appeared on Nero's Rome coinage.
|
|
2349 |
A.D.
63/64 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.93 gm) |
Dattari
241. Milne 216. BMC - . Curtis 132. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nero r. |
Rev: ΑΥΤΟ—ΚΡΑ,
bust of Nilus r., crowned with lotus,
lotus stalk and reed over far shoulder,
cornucopiae and date LΙ in front.
|
Note: Nero
greatly expanded the repertory of
tetradrachm reverse types, which
lost their exclusively dynastic character.
The personification of the Nile had
previously appeared on the bronze
coinage of Augustus and Claudius,
but Nero was the first to depict
him on the billon as well.
|
|
2350 |
A.D.
64/65 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.69 gm) |
Dattari
197. Milne 223. BMC 124. Curtis 143. |
Obv:
Rad. hd. of Nero r. |
Rev:
Draped bust of Poppaea, hd. r., shoulders
facing, date LΙΑ in front. |
Note: Nero's
second wife Poppaea was featured
on the tetradrachms for every year
of their brief marrriage, A.D. 62-65.
Poppaea's role on Nero's Rome coinage
is almost negligible, consisting
merely in the AVGVSTVS—AVGVSTA
reverse of aurei and denarii, produced
only in A.D. 64-65 and showing the
mperial couple standing at full length.
The Alexandrian coinage is thus the
most useful source as to the appearance
of this famous beauty.
|
|
2351 |
A.D.
64/65 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.66 gm) |
Dattari
197. Milne 223. BMC 124. Curtis 143. |
Obv:
Rad. hd. of Nero r. |
Rev:
Draped bust of Poppaea, hd. r., shoulders
facing, date LΙΑ in front. |
|
2352 |
A.D.
66/67 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.50 gm) |
Dattari
184. Milne 251. BMC 112. Curtis 65. |
Obv:
Radiate head of Nero r., date LΙΓ in
front. |
Rev:
Radiate head of Divus Augustus r. |
Note: Nero
commemorated both Divus Augustus
and Tiberius on the billon tetradrachms
of his thirteenth regnal year. Neither
of these ancestors appears on his
Rome coinage, and no particular motive
can be suggested for this isolated
return to dynastic propaganda at
so late a date in Nero's reign.
|
|
2353 |
A.D.
66/67 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.95 gm) |
Dattari
264. Milne 273. BMC 177. Curtis 113. |
Obv:
Radiate bust of Nero l., wearing aegis,
date LΙΓ in front. |
Rev: ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΦΟΡΟΣ,
galley right, two dolphins in exergue. |
Note: The
imperial galley is one of several
types advertising the dilettante
emperor's visit to Greece in A.D.
66-67, and his participation in all
the Panhellenic games, which were
held in a single year for his convenience.
|
|
2354 |
A.D.
66/67 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.07 gm) |
Cf.
Dattari 264. Milne 273. BMC 177. Curtis
113. |
Obv:
Radiate bust of Nero r., wearing aegis,
date LΙΓ (retrograde) in
front.
|
Rev: ΣΕ—ΒΑ—ΕΤΟΦΟΡΟ(sic),
galley right, two dolphins in exergue. |
Note: An
ancient forgery, see Metcalf, RBN
122 (1976), pp. 65 ff. Possibly ex
Luxor hoard, 1908.
|
|
2355 |
A.D.
67/68 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.15 gm) |
Dattari
236. Milne 297. BMC 133. Curtis 126. |
Obv:
Radiate bust of Nero r., wearing aegis,
date LΙΔ in front. |
Rev: ΗΡΑ ΑΡΓΕΙΑ,
diademed, draped and veiled bust of Hera
r., star in front. |
Note: Hera
Argeia is another of the types used
by Nero to advertise his tour of
Greece, specifically commemorating
his participation in the festival
of Hera at Argos, one of her chief
cult centers.
|
|
Galba A.D.
68-69 |
|
2356 |
c. April-August A.D.
68 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.05 gm) |
Dattari
298-299. Milne 320-322. BMC 199-200.
Curtis 194-196. |
Obv:
laureate head of Galba r., date LΑ in
front. |
Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝ—ΔΡΕΑ,
dr. bust of Alexandria r., wearing elephant
headdress. |
Note: The
city of Alexandria was most commonly
personified wearing an elephant skin
headdress, a traditional symbol of
Africa. Poole also suggested (BMC
p. lxxxiii) that the elephant headdress
recalled the city's foundation by
Alexander the Great, who was characteristically
represented with this attribute in
Alexandrian art.
|
|
2357 |
c. April-August A.D.
68 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.61 gm) |
Dattari
306. Milne 312. BMC 192. Curtis 206. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Galba r., date LΑ in
front. |
Rev:
Eleutheria stg. l., holding wreath and
sceptre and leaning on column. |
Note: Eleutheria
was the Hellenic equivalent of Libertas,
who figured on Galba's precious metal
coinage from Spain and Rome and on
his bronze coinage from Lugdunum
and Rome. These types of course symbolize
Galba's claim to be restoring liberty
after the tyranny of Nero. The column,
an attribute of Securitas rather
than Libertas, is not part of Galba's
European Libertas type. However it
does enrich the connotations of Eleutheria
by suggesting that liberty has been
solidly established.
|
|
Otho A.D.
69 |
|
2358 |
A.D.
69 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.18 gm) |
Dattari
325. Milne 363-364. BMC 206-207. Curtis
232-233. |
Obv:
laureate head of Otho r., date LΑ in
front. |
Rev: ΕΙΡΗ—ΝΗ,
laur., dr. and veiled bust of Eirene
r., caduceus over far shoulder.
|
Note: Otho's
Alexandrian coinage simply repeats
the reverse types of Galba. Eirene,
the Greek equivalent of Pax, had
appeared on Galba's aurei from Lugdunum
and on his Roman aes. Eirene is the
only one of these inherited types
to be mirrored on Otho's Rome coinage.
|
|
2359 |
A.D.
69 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.18 gm) |
Dattari
326. Milne 365. BMC 209. Curtis 234. |
Obv:
laureate head of Otho r., date LΑ in
front. |
Rev:
Eleutheria stg. l., holding wreath
and sceptre and leaning on column.
|
|
Vitellius A.D.
69 |
|
2360 |
A.D.
69 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.27 gm) |
Dattari
340. Milne 372. BMC 218. Curtis 243. |
Obv:
laureate head of Vitellius r. |
Rev:
Nike adv. l., holding wreath and palm,
date LΑ in l. field.
|
Note: Nike
is the sole tetradrachm type of Vitellius,
appearing also on his bronze drachms.
Her equivalent, Victoria, occurs
on the precious metal coinage of
each of Vitellius' European mints,
and on the bronze coinage of both
mints that struck Vitellian aes.
|
|
Vespasian A.D.
69-79 A.D. |
|
2361 |
A.D.
75/76 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (11.87 gm). |
Cf.
Dattari 347, Milne 442, BMC 225, and
Curtis 268 (none noting aegis). |
Obv:
Laur. hd. of Vespasian r., date LΗ in
front. |
Rev:
Laur. hd. of Titus r., with tiny aegis(?)
at point of neck truncation.
|
Note: The
portrait of Titus was used as a reverse
type of Vespasian's billon tetradrachms
in every year they were produced.
Titus additionally appeared on the
reverse of bronze drachms of the
last two years of the reign. Dynastic
propaganda was also a prominent theme
of the early Flavian coinage from
Rome and other mints, but it featured
Domitian as well as Titus, and soon
spawned coinage issued in the names
of each of the Caesars.
|
|
Titus A.D.
79-81 A.D. |
|
2362 |
A.D.
80/81 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.72 gm). |
Dattari
424. Milne 463. BMC 279. Curtis 278. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Titus r. |
Rev:
Homonoia enthroned l., holding olive
branch, date [L]Γ in l. field,
star in r. field.
|
Note: Homonoia
was the Greek equivalent of Concordia.
The type had various connotations,
but in a dynastic context, as here,
it expressed harmony within the imperial
family. It was employed contemporaneously
on the Rome dupondii of Titus, Domitian,
Divus Vespasian, and Julia Titi.
|
|
Domitian A.D.
81-96 A.D. |
|
2363 |
A.D.
82/83 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (11.75 gm). |
Apparently
unpublished. Possibly unique. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Domitian r. |
Rev:
Draped bust of Sarapis r., wearing modius,
date LΕ in front. |
Note: The
cult of Sarapis was established at
Alexandria as the official state
cult of the Ptolemies. Through its
auspices Osiris, the Egyptian god
of the underworld, assimilated aspects
of many of the great Greek gods,
including Hades, Zeus, Asclepius,
Dionysus, and Helios. Thus by Roman
times he was the chief god of the
Egyptian pantheon. The bust of Sarapis
has been recorded as a type of Domitian's
tetradrachms for year 8 and of his
bronze coinage for years 2 through
8.
|
|
2364 |
A.D.
88/89 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.95 gm). |
Dattari
435, this coin. Milne . Curtis X-283.
BMC. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Domitian r. |
Rev:
Athena stg. l., holding Nike and resting
hand on round shield, date LΗ in
l. field.
|
Note: Athena
has been recorded as a reverse type
of Domitian's billon tetradradrachms
for two of the three years in which
they were issued. The type reflects,
however faintly, the prevalence of
the emperor's patroness Minerva on
his Rome coinage.
|
|
2365 |
A.D.
90/91 |
|
Æ diobol
(10.80 gm). |
Cf.
Dattari 563 (rev. type r.). Milne .
Cf. BMC 334 (rev. type r., date LΙΑ)
and 335 (obv. type l.). Cf. Cologne
367 (rev. type r.) and 380 (LΙΑ).
SNG Copenhagen 214.
|
Obv:
Head of Domitian right, crowned with
grain.
|
Rev:
Agathodaemon serpent on back of bridled
horse galloping l., date LΙ below.
|
Note: The
Agathodaemon serpent was a good luck
spirit sacred to Sarapis. Every Egyptian
town had its own Agathodaemon, worshipped
under a special name.
|
|
2366 |
A.D.
93/94 |
|
Æ drachm
(27.48 gm). |
Dattari
452. Cf. Milne 523 (LΙΔ)
and 529 (LΙΕ).
Cf. BMC 338 (LΙΔ)
and 339 (LΙΕ).
|
Obv:
Laureate head. of Domitian r. |
Rev:
Emperor in biga of centaurs r., date
L ΙΓ in
exergue. |
Note: Despite
the fanciful aura contributed by the
centaurs, this type is basically triumphal.
The type of the emperor in triumphal
quadriga was also employed on Rome
aurei of A.D. 92-94 (see Carradice,
p. 40), apparently in celebration of
Domitian's sixteenth consulship.
|
|
2367 |
A.D.
95/96 |
|
Æ drachm
(23.82 gm). |
Dattari
544. Milne 532. BMC 342, pl. xxix.
|
Obv:
Laur. hd. of Domitian r. |
Rev:
Triumphal arch, date L ΙΕ across
field. |
Note: A
triumphal arch surmounted by two elephant
quadrigae appears on the reverse of
Domitian's Rome sestertii in A.D. 85,
90/1, and 95/6. The triumphal arch
type, without elephants, has been recorded
for his Alexandrian coinage for A.D.
83/4 (billon tetradrachms), 86/7 (billon
tetradrachms), and 94/5 (bronze drachms)
as well as 95/6. At both mints the
type seems to eonstitute a part of
the prolonged commemoration of the
emperor s German victories.
|
|
Nerva A.D.
96-98 |
|
2368 |
A.D.
96/97 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.99 gm). |
Dattari
638. Milne 542. BMC 353. Curtis 293. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nerva r. |
Rev:
Agathodaemon serpent r. coiled around
caduceus and grain ear, date LΑ in
ex.
|
|
2369 |
A.D.
96/97 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.99 gm). |
Dattari
631. Milne 534. BMC. Curtis 298. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nerva r. |
Rev:
Dikaiosyne stg. three quarters l.,
holding scales and cornucopiae, date
L Α across field.
|
Note: Dikaiosyne
was the Greek equivalent of Justitia,
who appeared on the precious metal
coinage of Rome in the first two years
of Nerva s reign.
|
|
2370
|
A.D.
96/97 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.96 gm). |
Dattari
633. Milne - . BMC 349. Curtis 306. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nerva r. |
Rev:
Eagle stg. three quarters r., date
L Α across field.
|
Note: The
eagle had been the standard Ptolemaic
reverse type and was adopted by Augustus
for the first Roman coinage of Egypt.
For the Romans the eagle was not
only a symbol of Jupiter; it was
inevitably associated with the legions
and warfare. In the present case
it may be the Alexandrian equivalent
of the CONCORDIA EXERCITVVM type,
which depicted clasped hands holding
a legionary eagle resting on a prow.
This was one of Nerva s most characteristic
types, employed on both precious
metal and aes coinage of the Rome
mint throughout his brief reign.
|
|
2371 |
A.D.
96/97 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.96 gm). |
Dattari
639. Milne 540. BMC 352. Curtis 299. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nerva r. |
Rev:
Eirene Stg. three quarters l., holding
grain ears and caduceus, date L Α across
field.
|
Note: Eirene
was the Greek equivalent of Pax,
who appeared on Nerva s sestertii
throughout his reign. The iconography
of Pax/Eirene constitutes an interesting
contrast: at Rome she carries her
familiar attributes, a branch and
sceptre, but at Alexandria her attributes
are more expressive of prosperity
and good fortune, happy states which
can only be achieved in a condition
of peace.
|
|
2372 |
A.D.
96/97 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.69 gm). |
Dattari
635. Milne 539. BMC . Curtis 08. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Nerva r. |
Rev:
Bust of Nilus r., crowned with lotus,
cornucopiae at r. shoulder, date L Α across
field.
|
Note: The
Nile with its annual flooding was
of central importance to Egyptian
life, and consequently the personification
of the river appeared on the coinage
of nearly every reign. Iconographically
Nilus is a standard Hellenistic river
god, and in this particular rendering
there are no special attributes to
distinguish him from river gods elsewhere
in the empire.
|
|
Trajan A.D.
98-117 |
|
2373 |
A.D.
100/101 |
|
Æ drachm
(27.66 gm). |
Dattari
1044. Milne —. BMC —. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Trajan r.
|
Rev:
Tyche stg. l., holding rudder and cornucopiae,
L Δ across
field.
|
Note: Tyche
was the Greek equivalent of Fortuna,
who appeared on Trajan's Rome aurei
in A.D. 99 and 100. This goddess-personification
was a typical substantive type for
the early years of a reign, as she
expressed the notion that the emperor
enjoyed the special favor of providence,
which could equally lift an obscure
man to greatness or cast the mighty
down.
|
|
2374 |
A.D.
109/110 |
|
Æ drachm
(17.69 gm). |
Apparently
unpublished. Possibly unique. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Trajan r. with drapery
on r. shoulder.
|
Rev:
Nilus and Alexandria reclining l. on
crocodile r.; he holds a reed; she
crowns him and holds a cornucopiae;
to l. genius on garlanded altar; date
LΙΓ and Ις above.
|
Note: Nilus
reclining may be compared to the
much less common Roman type of the
Tiber reclining. What makes this
particiular rendering unusual is
the pairing of Nilus not with his
consort Euthenia, but with the personification
of Alexandria. The numeral Ις which
appears in the field refers to the
Sixteen Cubits, the traditional measure
for a "good Nile," an innundation
adequate to insure the next year's
crops.
|
|
2375 |
A.D.
111/112 |
|
Æ drachm
(21.23 gm). |
Apparently
unpublished. Possibly unique.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Trajan r. with drapery
on r. shoulder.
|
Rev:
Artemis stg. r., pulling arrow from
quiver and holding bow, facing Athena
stg. l., resting hands on spear and
shield, date LΙΕ in
l. field.
|
Note: In
Trajan's tenth year the Alexandria
mint introduced a program of pairing
gods and/or personifications on the
bronze drachms, a practice which
persisted to the end of the reign.
There is usually some logic to the
pairings, though in the present case
it is not readily apparent. Possibly
Artemis and Athena are associated
here through their love of weapons.
|
|
2376 |
A.D.
116/117 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.81 gm). |
Dattari
661 var. (star lacking). Milne —.
BMC . Curtis —, but cf. X-332
(Eirene holds caduceus and cornucopiae).
|
Obv:
Radiate head of Trajan r., wearing aegis,
star in front. |
Rev:
Eirene stg. three quarters l., holding
grain ears with poppies and double
cornucopiae, date LΚ in
l. field.
|
Note: Trajan's
tetradrachms did not give much exposure
to personifications of the imperial
virtues. It is perhaps ironic that
Eirene (Peace) appeared on the tetradrachms
only in year 20, the year of his
great Parthian campaign. There is
no corresponding Pax type on contemporary
Rome coinage, which comments on the
Parthian war, the emperor's vicennalia,
and finally his failing health.
|
|
Hadrian A.D.
117-138 |
|
2377 |
A.D.
117/118 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.40 gm). |
Dattari
1247. Milne . BMC . Curtis X-543. |
Obv:
Laur. hd. of Hadrian r. with draped l.
shoulder, star in front. |
Rev:
Dr. hd. of Trajan r., with aegis on l.
shoulder, date LΒ in front. |
Note: Hadrian's
accession issue at Rome had featured
types associating the new emperor with
his adoptive father, and other issues
of 117 and 118 had emphasized his filial
piety by advertising Trajan's consecration
and the posthumous celebration of his
Parthian triumph. This tetradachm,
though dated to Hadrian's second regnal
year, belongs to his first year of
coinage at Alexandria and obviously
ref ects the dynastic propaganda of
the Rome coinage. That first year's
coinage also employed four personifications
who appeared repeatedly on contemporary
Rome coinage, as well as a number of
unrelated gods and local types.
|
|
2378 |
A.D.
125/126 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.73 gm). |
Dattari
1326. Milne 1151. BMC 630. Curtis 316. |
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian
r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Canopus of Osiris r., two figures on
body, date L Δ—ΕΚΑΤΟΥ around. |
Note: Canopic
types relate to the cult of Osiris.
In Pharaonic times four canopic jars
were employed to hold the viscera
of a mummy. In the Roman period canopic
jars also held papyri with funereal
texts.
|
|
2379 |
A.D.
128/129 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.46 gm). |
Dattari
1249. Milne 1272. BMC 566. Curtis 504. |
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian
r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Dr. bust of Sabina r., wearing stephane,
date LΙΓ behind. |
Note: Sabina
was elevated to the rank of Augusta
in A.D. 128, whereupon she received
her own coinage at Rome. At Alexandria
she was portrayed on Hadrian's tetradrachm
reverses for the remainder of her
life, and in addition had a coinage
in her own name from A.D. 130.
|
|
2380 |
A.D.
128/129 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.17 gm). |
Dattari
1525, pl. xxviii. Milne 1274. BMC 671.
Curtis 420. |
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian
r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
ΠΑΤΗΡ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ,
clasped hands, date L—ΙΓ above
and below. |
Note: The
abbreviation PP appears on Hadrian's
earliest Rome coinage, but then disappears
for some eleven years. It can be deduced
that with the emperor absent in the
East, mint officials improvised his
titulature until his wishes became
known. Evidently Hadrian did not consent
to accept the honorary title of Pater
Patriae, or Father of his Country,
until A.D. 129. On his Rome coinage
the event is commemorated modestly,
by the addition of the letters P P
to Hadrian's obverse legends. The Alexandria
mint made more of it, issuing this
tetradrachm type in the twelfth and
thirteenth years of the reign.
|
|
2381 |
A.D.
132/133 |
|
Æ drachm
(29.55 gm). |
Dattari
1848. Milne 1364. BMC 687 |
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian
r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Triptolemus scattering seed from biga
drawn by winged Agathodaemon serpents
r., the snakes wearing the crowns of
Upper and Lower Egypt, date LΙΖ above. |
Note: A
member of the Eleusinian trinity (together
with Demeter and Persephone), Triptolemus
was the hero sent by Demeter to teach
men the secrets of agriculture. In
Greece he was typically depicted in
a car drawn by winged serpents. That
design was introduced to the Alexandrian
coinage under Trajan. The addition
of the skhent crowns assimilates the
serpents to the Agathodaemones, giving
the type an authentic Egyptian flavor.
|
|
2382 |
A.D.
133/134 |
|
Æ drachm
(21.68 gm). |
Dattari
1787. Milne 1423. BMC 794, pl. xx. |
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian
r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Nilus reclining l. on crocodile, holding
reed and cornucopiae, date LΙΗ in
upper l. field.
|
|
2383 |
A.D.
134/135 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.47 gm). |
Dattari
1430. Milne 1450. BMC 646. Curtis 456. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Hadrian l. with draped
r. shoulder. |
Rev:
Bust of Nilus r., crowned with lotus,
cornucopiae at r. shoulder, date LΕ—ΝΝΕΑΚΔ
around.
|
Note: This
coin illustrates a common practice
of the Alexandrian mint, avoidance
of the numeral Θ,
which as the initial letter of the
Greek word for death ("Thanatos")
was considered ill-omened. In this
case the regnal year is spelled out
instead of being expressed in numerals.
|
|
2384 |
A.D. 134/135 |
|
Æ drachm
(24.46 gm). |
Dattari
1955. Milne —. BMC 878. |
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian,
viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Distyle temple in which Isis enthroned
r., offering breast to Harpocrates,
date Distyle temple in which Isis enthroned
r., offering breast to Harpocrates,
date LΕΝΝ—ΕΑΚΔ around.
|
Note: Isis,
the consort of Sarapis, was the chief
goddess of the Egyptian pantheon.
She was a true Egyptian deity, having
been the consort of Osiris in Pharaonic
times. Their myth recounts that after
the death of Osiris, Isis had to
flee from her evil brother Seth into
the swamps of the Delta to give birth
to her child and rear him in secret.
The depiction of Isis giving suck
to the sacred infant is a traditional
Egyptian theme and alludes to this
ancient myth. The shrine of course
is a later addition, but its papyrus
columns lend a distinctly Egyptian
character as well. On the avoidance
of Θ in
the regnal date, see commentary on
preceding lot.
|
|
2385 |
A.D.
135/136 |
|
Æ drachm
(22.43 gm). |
Dattari
1737, pl. xiv. Milne —. BMC —.
Cologne —. SNG Copenhagen —.
|
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian,
viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Harpocrates riding l. on ram, raising
hand to lips and holding club, date
L—Κ across
field.
|
Note: Harpocrates
was the hellenized name for Har-pa-khruti,
Horus the child. Horus was worshipped
in different forms and with different
attributes throughout Egypt. This
version is basically the Alexandrian
one, but the ram associates him with
Harpocrates of Mendes. The club suggests
assimilation to Hercules, probably
because of a similarity in their
myths: the infant Heracles overcame
an attack of snakes sent by the jealous
Hera, and the infant Horus in his
Delta exile also prevailed over poisonous
snakes, at least one of whom was
his evil uncle Seth in disguise.
|
|
2386 |
A.D.
136/137 |
|
Æ drachm
(26.06 gm). |
Dattari
1726, pl. xiv. Milne . BMC . Cologne
1222 var. (date in ex.).
|
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Hadrian,
viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Androsphinx reclining l. on which Harpocrates
std. l., raising hand to lips and holding
club, date ΚΑ in
r. field.
|
Note: The
type of Harpocrates seated on an
androsphinx was introduced in the
reign of Trajan. In its earliest
version the androsphinx is surrounded
by lotuses in allusion to Horus'
childhood in the Delta.
|
|
Sabina wife
of Hadrian |
|
2387 |
A.D.
130/131 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.72 gm). |
Dattari
2064. Milne 1309. BMC 918. Curtis 561 |
Obv:
Draped bust of Sabina r., wearing taenia
and poppy. |
Rev:
Sabina as Demeter enthroned three quarters
l., holding grain ears and lotus sceptre,
date LΙΕ in upper
l. field.
|
Note: As
noted above, the Rome mint issued
a coinage in the name of Sabina after
A.D. 128, when the empress received
the title of Augusta. She did not
have her own coinage at Alexandria
until A.D. 130. Her assimilation
to Demeter is of course equivalent
to her assimilation to Ceres at Rome:
Ceres was one of the chief reverse
types of the special issues that
inaugurated Sabina's Rome coinage
in A.D. 128. Ceres does not, however,
appear on the Rome coinage that is
contemporary with this Alexandrian
issue.
|
|
Antinous favorite
of Hadrian |
|
2388 |
A.D.
134/135 |
|
Æ diobol
(9.86 gm). |
Dattari
2085. Milne —. BMC —. |
Obv:
Draped bust of Antinous r., wearing hem-hem
crown. |
Rev:
Antinous as Hermes on horseback r.,
holding caduceus, date L—ΙΘ scattered
in field.
|
Note: Hadrian's
young favorite Antinous accidentally
drowned in the Nile during an imperial
visit to Egypt , in A.D. 130. The
grieving emperor had him heroized
and established his cult throughout
the eastern provinces, most notably
in Asia Minor and Egypt. A bronze
coinage in the name of Antinous was
struck at Alexandria in the nineteenth
through twenty-first years of the
reign, with types indicating his
assimilation to Hermes.
|
|
2389 |
A.D.
136/137 |
|
Æ drachm
(26.65 gm). |
Dattari
2088 var. (L—Κ/Α).
Milne—. BMC 925 var. (LΚ—Α).
|
Obv:
Draped bust of Antinous r., viewed
from behind, wearing hem-hem crown.
|
Rev:
Antinous as Hermes on horseback r.,
holding caduceus, date L—Κ—Α scattered
in field.
|
|
Aelius
Caesar A.D. 136-138 |
|
2390 |
A.D.
137 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.14 gm). |
Dattari
2074 var. (no dr. l. shoulder). Milne
1541. BMC 921 var. (no dr. l. shoulder).
Curtis 563.
|
Obv:
Bare head of Aelius r. with draped l.
shoulder. |
Rev: ΔΕΜ ΕΞΟΥC ΥΠΑΤ Β, around,
Homonoia stg. three quarters l., holding
patera and cornucopiae, lighted altar
at her feet.
|
Note: The
coinage for Hadrian's heir-designate
is all confined to a single year, the
twenty-first of the emperor's reign.
Its sole reverse type is Homonoia,
corresponding to the Concordia reverses
of Aelius' Rome coinage. In its details
the type conflates several features
of the Caesar's Rome coinage: Homonoia
appears with an altar, an attribute
more commonly pertaining to Pietas,
the other type of the special Rome
issue commemorating the emperor's adoption
of Aelius. The legend, a Greek translation
of the titulature used on the Caesar's
Rome coinage, is exceptional in the
Alexandrian context.
|
|
Antoninus
Pius A.D. 138-161 |
|
2391 |
A.D.
141/142 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.09 gm). |
Dattari
2096 (wrongly described with ΦΑΙCΤΙΝΑ).
Milne 1684-85 var. (different breaks
in rev. legend). BMC —. Curtis —.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev:
Diademed, veiled and draped bust of Diva
Faustina l., date L—Ε across
field. |
Note: The
emperor's wife Faustina died in A.D.
141 and was promptly consecrated.
At Rome she immediately received
a coinage in her own name, which
was issued in every subsequent year
until at least A.D. 148. At Alexandria,
however, the deified empress merely
appeared on the reverses of her husband's
coinage in the year of her death.
Further commemoration awaited the
fifth anniversary of her consecration
(see lot 2411 below).
|
|
2392 |
A.D.
141/142 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (14.03 gm). |
Dattari
2105. Milne 1699 var. (obv. leg.).
BMC 1216.
|
Obv:
Laureate, dr. and cuir. bust of Antoninus
Pius, viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Diva Faustina stg. three quarters l.,
sprinkling incense over altar and resting
on sceptre, date L—Ε across
lower field.
|
|
2393 |
A.D.
141/142 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.67 gm). |
Dattari
2323 bis. Milne 1703. BMC 930, pl.
ii. Curtis 653 var. (holds dolphin
by tail).
|
Obv:
Laureate, dr. and cuir. bust of Antoninus
Pius, viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Poseidon stg. three quarters r., holding
trident and dolphin, resting l. foot
on prow, dateΕL in l. field.
|
|
2394 |
A.D.
141/142 |
|
Æ drachm
(22.94 gm). |
Dattari
3035. Milne 1728. BMC 196. |
Obv:
Laur. hd. of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev:
Distyle temple in which Hermanubis
stg. three quarters r., holding caduceus
and long palm branch, small jackal
to his l., small figure of Elpis adv.
l. to his r., date L—Ε across
field.
|
Note: Hermanubis
was the hellenized form of Anubis,
the Egyptian god of embalmment. Both
the name and the caducous indicate
that Anubis was assimilated to Hermes,
who guided the souls of the dead
to the Underworld. In traditional
Egyptian art Anubis had been represented
as jackal-headed, but as Hermanubis
he instead has the jackal as an attribute.
The small figure of Elpis (Spes)
symbolizes men's hopes for the afterlife.
|
|
2395 |
A.D.
143/144 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.82 gm). |
Dattari
2114 var. (obv. hd. Iaur.). Milne—.
BMC—. Curtis—. Cologne
1437.
|
Obv:
Head of Antoninus Pius r., crowned with
grain. |
Rev:
Bare-headed, dr. and cuir. bust of
Marcus Aurelius r., viewed from behind,
L in ex., Ζ to
r.
|
Note: Marcus
Aurelius was formally adopted in
A.D. 139, which corresponded to the
third Alexandrian year of Antoninus
Pius. Although the Caesar immediately
received his own coinage at Rome,
in Alexandria he merely became one
of the regular reverse types of the
billon tetradrachms from the third
through eighth years of the reign,
after which a coinage was established
in his name.
|
|
2396 |
A.D.
144/145 |
|
Æ drachm
(24.46 gm). |
Dattari
2983, pl. xxvi. Milne —. BMC
1078, pl. xii.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev:
Two zodiacs, one within the other,
each sign coinciding; in central circle,
jugate busts of Sarapis and Isis l.
|
Note: This
interesting and desirable type graphically
illustrates the coincidence of the
Sothaic and Egyptian civil calendars,
an event which occurred only every
1460 years. The following zodiacal
types were all struck to commemorate
the beginning of the Sothaic cycle
early in the reign of Antoninus Pius,
specifically in A.D. 139. It is not
known why commemoration was delayed
until the eighth year of the reign,
but it may be pointed out that the
Rome coinage celebrating Rome's nine
hundredth anniversary was also not
perfectly timely.
|
|
2397 |
A.D.
144/145 |
|
Æ drachm
(25.72 gm). |
Dattari
2960, pl. xxvi. Milne 1807. BMC 1080,
pl. xii.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev: Venus
in Taurus: diad. and dr.
bust of Aphrodite l. above bull rushing
l., star in upper l. field, date
LΗ in ex.
|
|
2398 |
A.D.
144/145 |
|
Æ drachm
(26.61 gm). |
Dattari
2968. Milne 1813. BMC 1084, pl. xii. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev: Sun
in Leo: rad. and dr. bust
of Helios r. above lion charging r.,
star in upper r. field, date LΗ under
lion. |
|
2399 |
A.D.
144/145 |
|
Æ drachm
(23.36 gm). |
Dattari
2970, pl. xxvi. Milne—. BMC—.
Cologne 1900-1901. SNG Copenhagen 461,
same rev. die.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev: Venus
in Libra: diad. and dr.
bust of Venus l. above young female
floating l., holding scales, star
in upper l. field, date [LΗ]
illegible.
|
|
2400 |
A.D.
144/145 |
|
Æ drachm
(21.74 gm). |
Dattari
2972. Milne 1820. BMC—. Cologne
1500. |
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev: Mars
in Scorpio: helmeted and
dr. bust of Ares l. above scorpion
l., star in upper l. field, date
L—Η across
upper field.
|
|
2401 |
A.D.
144/145 |
|
Æ drachm
(21.32 gm). |
Dattari
2976 v. (four-legged capricorn). Cf.
Milne 1823 (rev. type r.). BMC —.
Cologne 1505.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev: Saturn
in Capricorn: veiled hd.
of Cronus l., wearing disc, above
capricon l., star in upper l. field,
date [L]—Η across
upper field.
|
|
2402 |
A.D.
144/145 |
|
Æ drachm
(22.74 gm). |
Dattari
2981, pl. xxvi. Milne 1826. BMC 1090,
pl. xii. Cologne 1897.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev: Jupiter
in Pisces: laur. and dr.
bust of Jupiter r., sceptre over
far shoulder, above two fishes, the
top one facing r., the bottom one
facing l., star in upper r. field,
date [LΗ] illegible.
|
|
2403 |
A.D.
146/147 |
|
Æ drachm
(28.66 gm). |
Dattari
2452, pl. ix. Milne 1908. BMC 1028,
pl. iii.
|
Obv:
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius r. |
Rev:
Apollo of Miletus stg. facing, holding
deer over tripod, fanked by two Nemeses,
date L ΔΕΚΑΤΟΥ in ex. |
Note: The
reverse type depicts a famous cult
statue of Apollo, located in the temple
of Branchidae near Miletus in Asia
Minor. The cult statue appears alone
on billon tetradrachms of Antoninus
Pius, but on the bronze drachms, as
here, it is accompanied by two Nemeses.
This design recalls the Homonoia coinage
of Miletus and Smyrna, also issued
under Antoninus Pius. The appearance
on the type on Alexandrian coinage
may have some connection with a cult
of Milesian Apollo in Naucratis.
|
|
2404 |
A.D.
147/148 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (14.29 gm). |
Dattari
2331, pl. xxi. Milne 1950. BMC 997.
Curtis 654.
|
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Antoninus
Pius r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Roma std. l. on cuirass, holding Palladium
and sceptre, date L ΕΝΔ—Ε—ΚΑΤΟΥ around.
|
Note: Types
representing Roma appeared irregularly
on the Alexandrian coinage over the
years, infrequently under Trajan
and not at all under Hadrian. Under
Antoninus Pius, however, Roma types
were used in at least six regnal
years (years 2, 7, 9, 11, 14, and
17), a phenomenon which must surely
be connected with the celebration
of Rome's nine-hundredth anniversary
in A.D. 148. On the Rome coinage
this major festival was anticipated
as early as A.D. 140, and again in
142, 143, 145, and 146.
|
|
2405 |
A.D.
147/148 |
|
Æ drachm
(23.54 gm).
|
Cf.
Dattari 2711 and BMC 1072 (LΔΕΚΑΤΟΥ).
Milne —. Cf. Cologne 552-553 (L ΔΕΚΑΤΟΥ).
SNG Copenhagen —. Apparently
unpublished for this date.
|
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Antoninus
Pius r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Nike adv. l., crowning trophy and holding
palm branch, date L—ΕΝ—ΔΕΚΑΤΟΥ around
l. edge. |
Note: The
concentration of Nike types in Antoninus'
tenth year may mark the type as commemorating
his decennalia. Several issues for
the decennalia were struck at Rome
in the course of 146 and 147; however,
Victory was not among the types used
there, nor did she appear in the
contemporary substantive issues.
|
|
2406 |
A.D.
148/149 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (11.98 gm). |
Dattari
2350. Milne —. BMC —.
Curtis —. Cologne 1588. SNG Copenhagen
489.
|
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Antoninus
Pius r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Bust of Sarapis r., wearing modius, date
L ΔΩΔΕ—ΚΑΤΟΥ around. |
|
2407 |
A.D.
149/150 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (14.01 gm). |
Dattari —.
Milne 2045. BMC —. Curtis —.
Cologne 1627 var. (laur. hd.). SNG
Copenhagen 494 var. (laur. hd.).
|
Obv:
Laur., dr. and cuir. bust of Antoninus
Pius r., viewed from behind. |
Rev:
Nike stg. r. on globe, holding wreath
and palm branch, date L—ΙΓ across
field. |
Note: The
type of Nike standing right on a
globe is well documented for year
23, but quite rare for year 13.
|
|
2408 |
A.D.
157/158 |
|
Æ drachm
(17.89 gm). |
Dattari
2603, pl. xv (misdescribed as LΚΔ).
Milne —. Cf. BMC 1054 (Lς).
Cologne —. SNG Copenhagen —.
|
Obv:
Laureate and draped bust of Antoninus
Pius r. |
Rev: Labors
of Heracles: Heracles stg.
three quarters r., hd. l., lifting
Antaeus from ground, date L Κ/Α across
field. |
Note: This
scene from the sought-after Labors
of Heracles series depicts the combat
between Heracles and the giant Antaeus,
a son of Earth. Normal wrestling
throws only made Antaeus a more dangerous
adversary, for he drew unnatural
strength from contact with his mother.
Heracles thus defeated him by lifting
him into the air.
|
|
2409 |
A.D.
159/160 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.88 gm). |
Dattari
2377, pl. xxiii. Milne —. BMC —.
Curtis 699 var. (L—ΚΓ below
busts). Cologne —. SNG Copenhagen —.
|
Obv:
Laureate and draped bust of Antoninus
Pius r. |
Rev:
Confronted busts of Sarapis on l. and
Isis on r., date L—Κ—Γ scattered
in field.
|
|
2410 |
A.D.
160/161 |
|
Æ drachm
(22.34 gm). |
Dattari —.
Milne —. BMC —. Cologne —.
SNG Copenhagen —. Demetrio sale,
Feuardent 1872 —.
Apparently an unpublished type.
|
Obv:
Laureate and draped bust of Antoninus
Pius r. |
Rev:
Euthenia stg. facing on l., hd. r.,
holding grain ears, and Dikaiosyne
stg. facing on r., hd. l., holding
cornucopiae and scales, date L—Κ—Δ around
field.
|
Note: The
pairing of these two seemingly opposed
types implies a new imperial virtue,
the fair distribution of abundance.
|
|
Diva
Faustina Sr. died A.D. 141 |
|
2411 |
A.D.
151/152 |
|
Æ drachm
(27.00 gm). |
Dattari
3295. Milne 2154. BMC —. |
Obv:
Draped bust of Diva Faustina r. with
pearls in hair. |
Rev:
Dr. bust of Zeus Ammon r., wearing
disc, above ram walking r., Egyptian
altar in front, date L—ΙΕ across
upper field.
|
|
M.
Aurelius Caesar, A.D. 138-161 |
|
2412 |
A.D.
148/149 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.21 gm). |
Dattari
3187, pl. xxv. Milne 1973. BMC 1219.
Curtis —.
|
Obv:
Bare head of Marcus Aurelius r. |
Rev:
Dr. bust of Zeus Ammon r., wearing disc,
date L ΔΩΔΕ—ΚΑΤΟΥ around. |
Note: Zeus
Ammon is essentially the ram god
of the Egyptian city of Thebes, whose
desert oracle at Siwah was consulted
by Alexander the Great in 331 B.C.
Ammon was identified with Zeus but
seems not to have acquired any important
characteristics from him.
|
|
M.
Aurelius A.D. 161-189 |
|
2413 |
A.D.
161/162 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (12.38 gm). |
Dattari
3327. Milne —. BMC —. Curtis —. |
Obv:
Confronted busts of Marcus Aurelius
on l. and Lucius Verus on r., both
bare-headed, dr., and cuir.
|
Rev:
Eagle with spread wings stg. three
quarters r., palm branch over far shoulder,
date L Β across
field.
|
|
2414 |
A.D.
161/162 |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (11.27 gm). |
Dattari
3328 and Curtis X-722 var. (crescent
on Faustina's hd.). Milne—. BMC—.
|
Obv:
Laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius right.
|
Rev:
Dr. bust of Faustina Jr. r., date L—Β across
field.
|
Note: The
use of the empress' portrait as a reverse
type appears to be confined to the
second year of this reign. Otherwise
her image was kept before the public
by means of a coinage in her own name,
which had already begun in the reign
of Antoninus Pius.
|
|
2415 |
A.D.
165/166 |
|
Æ drachm
(22.25 gm) |
Dattari
3527 and Milne 2548 var. (Helios bust
lacking, date in field). BMC—.
|
Obv:
Laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius left
with draped r. shoulder.
|
Rev:
Sarapis in quadriga l., raising r.
hand, rad. and dr. bust of Helios r.
above horses' backs, date Lς in
ex.
|
Note: The
type of the emperor in triumphal quadriga
was employed on Rome coinage issued
in August and September of A.D. 166,
celebrating Verus' Median victories
and the fourth imperatorial acclamation
of the coemperors. This Rome issue
actually falls at the beginning of
regnal year seven at Alexandria, so
that the present type anticipates its
counterpart at Rome. The Alexandrian
version substitutes Sarapis for the
emperor(s) in the quadriga, an iconographic
change which would seem to blur the
significance of the type. Yet the bust
of Helios subtly indicates the eastern
locus of the victory.
|
|
2416 |
A.D.
165/166 |
|
Æ drachm
(23.67 gm) |
Dattari
3573. Milne 2563 var. (dr. bust). BMC—.
|
Obv:
Laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius left
with draped r. shoulder.
|
Rev:
Trophy flanked by two std. captives,
date L—ς across field.
|
Note: The
trophy is another type alluding to
the eastern military campaigns. Trophy
types, with and without captives, were
employed in the Rome coinage for Verus
in A.D. 165 and 166, in honor of his
Parthian victories.
|
|
Faustina
Jr. daughter
of Antoninus Pius and wife of Marcus
Aurelius |
2417 |
A.D.
152/153 under Pius |
|
Billon
tetradrachm (13.70 gm) |
Dattari
3240. Milne 2174. BMC 1318. Curtis—.
|
Obv: FΑΥCΤΙΝΑ CΕΒΑCCΤΗ (sic), draped bust
of Faustina Jr. r.
|
Rev:
Dikaiosyne enthroned l., holding scales
and comucopiae, date L Ις in
l. field.
|
Note: Iustitia,
the Roman equivalent of Dikaiosyne,
was not normally associated with empresses
and was not one of the types employed
for Faustina at Rome.
|
|
2418 |
A.D.
165/166 under Aurelius |
|
Æ Drachm
(21.45 gm) |
Dattari
3623, pl. xi. SNG Copenhagen 552.
|
Obv:
Draped bust of Faustina Jr. r. with
pearls in hair.
|
Rev:
Small figure of Harpocrates
stg. three quarters l., raising hand
to lips and
holding club, flanked by two canopi,
below this group eagle with spread
wings three quarters r., hd. reverted,
date L ς across field.
|
|
|
|