EGYPT. Alexandria. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Drachm (Bronze, 35 mm, 23.14 g, 12 h), Alexandria, RY 7 = 143/4. ΑYΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ ЄYϹ Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. L Z The Judgment of Paris: to right, on platform, Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena standing with their usual attributes; to left on the ground, below tree, Paris reclining to right on rock (?); before him, Hermes standing front, head turned left to Paris, pointing with his left hand at Aphrodite; before platform, various animals; above, two Erotes holding wreath. Dattari (Savio) 8847. K&G -. RPC IV.4 online 13519.11 (this coin, now cleaned). Extremely rare and of great mythological interest. Somewhat rough and with some flan faults, otherwise, very fine.


The Judgment of Paris is one of the most famous tales of Greek mythology. Eris, the goddess of discord, once threw a golden apple inscribed 'for the most beautiful' between the gods of the Olymp. Pressured by Aphrodite, Hera and Athena, who all claimed the apple for themselves, to decide who was the most beautiful of all, Zeus referred the judgment to the Trojan Paris. The goddesses all attempted to bribe Paris with a reward: Hera offered him to make him King of Europe and Asia, Athena offered wisdom and Aphrodite the love of the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris opted for the latter, which set about the Trojan War, as the most beautiful woman in the world was Helena, the wife of King Menelaos of Sparta, whom Paris abducted from the Peloponnese.