Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 484 27 Jan 2021
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EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Drachm (34mm, 18.27 g, 12h). Dated RY 14 (AD 94/95). Laureate head right / Triumphal arch with three bays between columns, two windows above; roof surmounted by statuary group of Domitian driving horses between trophies; L I[Δ] (date) across field. Köln 410; Dattari (Savio) 542-3; K&G 24.224 (this coin illustrated); RPC II 2708; Emmett 257.14 (R2). Dark brown patina with touches of green and red, some minor roughness. Fine/VF. Very rare, as are all Alexandrian drachms of Domitian, with only six reverse types recorded by Emmett.
From the Stein A. Evensen Collection. Ex Group CEM (Classical Numismatic Group 88, 14 September 2011), lot 1079; Walter Niggeler Collection (Part 2, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 21 October 1966), lot 696.
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).
From the Stein A. Evensen Collection. Ex Group CEM (Classical Numismatic Group 88, 14 September 2011), lot 1079; Walter Niggeler Collection (Part 2, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 21 October 1966), lot 696.
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).