EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 22.89 g, 12h). Dated RY 18 (AD 154/5). Good Fine.

Triton XXIX
Lot: 520. Estimated: $ 1 000

Roman Provincial, Bronze, Coin-in-Hand Video

Sold For $ 2 750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 22.89 g, 12h). Dated RY 18 (AD 154/5). AYT K T AI AΔP ANTωNINOC CЄB ЄYC, laureate bust right, slight drapery on left shoulder / Lykurgos and the Vines of Dionysos – King Lykurgos right, his left knee on a vine stump, his arms pulled behind him by the vines, head tilted up and his axe between his legs; L I [H] (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 8842; K&G 35.650; RPC IV.4 1700; Emmett 1603.18 (R5). Dark brown patina, peripheral roughness, scrapes on reverse, edge split. Good Fine. Very rare.

A rather obscure myth, in one version King Lykurgos is credited with defeating the army of Dionysos when the god invaded Thrace. Dionysos escaped by plunging into the sea and sought refuge in Thetis’ grotto. Dionysos’ mother, Rhea, upset by her son’s misfortune, drove Lykurgos mad and then helped her son’s army to escape. Lykurgos, in his madness, killed his own son Dryas with an axe (believing he was cutting down a vine, hence the coin type), and then pruned the corpse of its nose, ears, fingers, and toes. Dionysos, returning from the sea, told the people of Thrace that Lykurgos would have to be killed or the land would remain barren as punishment for Lykurgos’ crime. King Lykurgos was then killed by being drawn and quartered by wild horses.

The final winners of all Triton XXIX lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 13-14 January 2026.

Triton XXIX – Session Two – Lot 302-613 will be held Tuesday afternoon, 13 January 2026 beginning at 2:00 PM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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