Exceptional Pharos of Alexandria

Triton XIV, Lot: 720. Estimate $2000. Sold for $13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Hadrian. AD 117-138. Æ Drachm (34mm, 27.75 g, 12h). Alexandria mint. Dated RY 18 (AD 133/4). AVT KAIC TRAIAN • AΔPIANOC [CЄB], laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Isis Pharia standing right, holding billowing sail in both hands; to right, the Pharos of Alexandria: high tower with entrance to right at base and decorated with bosses along sides and surmounted by lantern room, decorated at base by Tritons blowing horns and itself surmounted by statue of Poseidon(?); L IH (date) above. Köln 1121-1122 var. (entrance to Pharos at base to left); Dattari (Savio) 7721 var. (same - same obv. die); K&G 32.588; cf. BMC 757; Emmett 1002 = Milne 1414. EF, dark brown patina. The finest to appear on the market in recent memory. Several grades better than the best piece located in Coin Archives.