Antoninus Pius Alexandria Drachm, Ae, Wth Triptolemos Reverse

A very unusual roman coin. Grabbed it because I wanted another Hadrian sestertius. But this tuned out more interesting. It was not easy to identify the emperor. The legend should read 'ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TR P COS III', is gone. But the bust can not be mistaken. Antoninus Pius.



Provincial coinage as big as a sestertius.These drachms were largest bronzes, copper by this time, struck for the province of Egypt. They are most interesting because they were cast. The molds left them with a convex side, on the edge. Sharing a photo of that.



The reverse is much better preserved because it is a little concave. Triptolemos in a biga pulled by serpents. Year of production is clear: LH, year 8, meaning 144-145.

Same reverse was used for several emperors. I would prefer an Handrian but any of these is hard to find. I was lucky to have this one.

The biga pulled by serpents also appears in a republic era denarius but with a different goddess. That and a Hadrian drachm like this one were shown here recently.