Rare Depiction of Athena Stathmia

Triton XXI, Lot: 122. Estimate $500. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. BI Tetradrachm (24mm, 13.58 g, 12h). Dated RY 7 (AD 143/144). ANTωNINOC CЄB ЄVCЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Athena Stathmia standing facing, head left, holding the scales and cornucopia of Dikaiosyne, shield at her side; L Z (date) in upper left field. Köln 1431; Dattari (Savio) 2177; K&G 35.199; Emmett 1372.7; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 105 (this coin). EF, toned with areas of find patina. Rare reverse type, with a fine style obverse portrait.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection, purchased from Spink & Son, London, September 1972.

The reverse type for this coin is an excellent example of syncretic deities being developed at the Alexandrian mint. In this case, Athena is depicted with a scale and cornucopia – the attributes of Dikaiosyne.