Watch List notes:

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (33mm, 23.46 g, 12h). Dated RY 2 (AD 138/139). Bareheaded, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Nilus seated left on hippopotamus walking left, holding two stalks of grain with his right hand and a cornucopia with his left; ЄT O YC B (date) around. Köln 1307; Dattari (Savio) 2774; K&G 35.18; Emmett 1626.2. Brown and turquoise blue surfaces. Good VF. Very rare. Only two in CoinArchives (CNG 91, lot 756; Triton XXI, lot 110, which realized $5,000 hammer), and this coin is comparable. The turquoise blue surfaces do occur on the occasional Alexandrian drachm.


One of the classic rarities and iconic types from the Alexandrian mint.