EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (33mm, 24.98 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 125/6). Near VF.

Electronic Auction 610 – Session 1
Lot: 763.
Closing Date: Jun 3 2026 10:00 ET

The Beniak Collection of Alexandrian Coinage, Bronze

Estimate: $ 300

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EGYPT, Alexandria. Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (33mm, 24.98 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 125/6). Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind / 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 ∆E KATOY (date) around. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 7828; K&G –; RPC III 5602A; Emmett 1061.10 (R5). Dark brown patina. Near VF. Extremely rare. The second known after the Dattari coin.

From the Dr. Thomas E. Beniak Collection, purchased from David Vagi, 4 December 1999.

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 14:14:00 ET.

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