Tetradrachm Hadrian, Alexandria 132–133 A.D.
References: Strack, P. L., Die Reichspraegung zur Zeit des Hadrian, W Kohlhammer, Stuttgart, 1933, nn. 306, 738; Mattingly, H., RE3 / Coins of the Roman Empire in the British Museum, vol. III: Nerva to Hadrian, London: BMP, 1976, nn. 862, 1773; Mattingly, H., Sydenham, E. A., RIC2 / The Roman imperial coinage, vol. 2: Vespasian to Hadrian, Spink, London, 1986, nn. 310, 781; Abdy, R. A., Mittag, P. F., RIC2.3 / The Roman Imperial Coinage, vol. II - part 3 from AD 117-138 Hadrian, Spink, London, 2019, nn. 1463, 1543; Milne 1269, 1351-1352, 1354; KÖln 1063; Emmett 876; Dattari 1434 var. (legend).
Provincial tetradrachm. On the obverse, laureate draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian (117-138 A.D.), facing right. The inscription reads AVT KAIC TPAIAN AΔPIANOC CEB (AVT KAIΣ TPAIAN AΔPIANOΣ ΣEB). On the reverse, very faded, the river-god Nilos, represented as a bearded man, nude to the waist, possibly reclining against a sphinx to left, upon a crocodile in flowing water, holding cornucopia and reed. The letters L IZ (date, regnal year 17) in upper field. Mint of Alexandria, Egypt. The Nile and the Tiber were the two most important rivers in the Roman world.
Date: 132–133 AD.
Parallels: compare with London, British Museum 1864,1128.63, 1912,0710.120, 1912,0710.121, 1934,1018.43, 1936,0815.35, G3,RIG.188, R.8869, R.8870, R.8871, R.8873, R.12334 (all in latin).
Photo by Steve Morton