EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (34mm, 20.30 g, 12h). Dated RY 8 (AD 123/4). Fine.

Electronic Auction 599
Lot: 535. Estimated: $ 150

Roman Provincial, Bronze

Sold For $ 200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (34mm, 20.30 g, 12h). Dated RY 8 (AD 123/4). Laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / Triumphal arch with three bays between columns, two windows above; roof surmounted by statuary group of Domitian driving horses between trophies of arms with captives at base; L H (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G –; RPC III 5462; Emmett 1061.8 (R5). Repatinated red-brown surfaces, light porosity. Fine. Extremely rare, only three recorded in RPC.

While often assumed to depict a local Egyptian monument, Fred Kleiner (“An arch of Domitian in Rome on coins of Alexandria,” NC 1989, pp. 69-81) has convincingly argued that the arch was erected elsewhere, almost certainly in the capital, to commemorate Domitian’s victories in Germany. Indeed, Suetonius (Dom. 13.2) records that the emperor erected so many arci – Latin for arches – in Rome that a Greek punster wrote on one of them ἀρκεῖ (enough).

It is also interesting to note that the production of Aes denominations finally started to increase at the Alexandrian mint during the reign of Domitian, and at the expense of the billon production.

Although erected to Domitian, this reverse type remained a popular theme throughout the reigns of Trajan and Hadrian.

Closing Date and Time: 12 November 2025 at 12:58:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.