EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (33mm, 25.38 g, 12h). Dated RY 14 (AD 110/11). Good Fine.

Electronic Auction 610 – Session 1
Lot: 757.
Closing Date: Jun 3 2026 10:00 ET

The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Coinage, Bronze

Estimate: $ 150

BID NOW

EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (33mm, 25.38 g, 12h). Dated RY 14 (AD 110/11). Laureate bust right, wearing aegis on left shoulder / Triumphal arch with three arcades within which are statues; on the lateral arches are two bas-reliefs representing the sitting Emperor; on the triangular pediment, two Nikes supporting a disc; on the summit, facing statue of Domitian in a chariot of six horses; to either side, trophies and captives; L I∆ (date) across field. Köln 564; Dattari (Savio) 7193-4; K&G 27.345; RPC III 4547.2; Emmett 602.14. Dark green-brown patina, minor scratches, smoothing. Good Fine.

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from Edward J. Waddell.

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: 3 June 2026 at 14:12:00 ET.

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