VACC July, 2013

The Coinage of Roman Alexandria

Egypt and its principle city Alexandria become the personal property of Octavian following

the suicide of Antony and Cleopatra in 30 BC. Future emperors continue this tradition of control and ownership.

Octavian follows the example of the Ptolemaic empire by maintaining a tightly controlled token coinage.

Demoninations predominately limited to: o Tetradrachm (billon) o Drachm (bronze) o Hemidrachm (bronze) o Diobol (bronze) o Obol (bronze) o Dichalkon (bronze)

Early issues of Augustus included 80, 40, 20, 10 drachma bronze coins before the first issue of the silver alloy tetradrachm under Tiberius.

Dated coins (based upon the Egyptian calendar) assist with attribution.

Unusual reverse images include deities, architecture, mythological events and astrological symbols.

Many Emperor and Empress portraits were issued, some with portraits on the reverse and obverse.

Some affordable Alexandrian coins bear portraits that are scarce or rare in Imperial issues, such as Antonia, Octavia, Otho, Aquilia Severa, Annia Faustina, Tranquillina and others.

Some very rare portraits, such as Pertinax jr and Titiana appear only on Alexandrian coins.

Good reference books, such as Alexandrian Coins by Keith Emmett and Die Munzen der romischen Munzstatte Alexandria by Kampmann and Ganschow provide relative rarities and values.

Claudius tetradrachm with Messalina on the reverse. Nero tetradrachm with Poppaea

Nero tetradrachm with the imperial galley Julia Mamaea tetradrachm with the goddess Selene

Hadrian drachm, Pharos reverse. Antoninus Pius drachm with the harbour of Alexandria

Antoninus Pius tetradrachm, emperor on horseback, drachm with emperor in triumphal chariot.