Extremely Rare Type with Aurelius Crowned by Nike

387, Lot: 356. Estimate $150. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. Æ Drachm (31mm, 19.27 g, 12h). Dated RY 24 (AD 160/1). Laureate and draped bust right / Marcus Aurelius standing left, holding scepter with his left hand and patera over lit altar with his right; behind him, Nike standing left, crowning Aurelius with a wreath held in her right hand; L ∆/K (date) in upper left field. Köln 1885 (uncertain year); Dattari (Savio) 2447 & 8305; K&G –; Emmett 1510.24 (R5). Near Fine, reddish-brown patina with touches of green. Extremely rare type.

It appears that there are actually two sub-types of this extremely rare variety: the present coin with Marcus Aurelius standing on the reverse, bare-headed, and another type with Antoninus Pius, laureate. This observation is based on the two specimens in the Dattari collection, which are illustrated in the Savio plates. As this type was struck during the last regnal year of Pius in Egypt, it’s possible that the sub-types mark his death and the accession of Aurelius.