Wonderfully Engraved Domitian Hemidrachm

CNG 105, Lot: 599. Estimate $750. Sold for $1300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Domitian. AD 81-96. Æ Hemidrachm (29mm, 14.96 g, 12h). Dated RY 10 (AD 90/91). Bust of Domitian left, wearing aegis and wreath of grain ears / NЄIKH CЄ BACT, Nike seated left on shields and cuirass, holding wreath and palm frond; L I (date) before. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 515 var. (obv. bust and rev. type both facing right); K&G 24.107 var. (same); RPC II 2573 var. (same); Emmett 270.10 (R4). Near EF, green and brown patina. Exceptionally fine style. Very rare.

The authors of RPC note in their introductory comments for Domitian that “From year 10 the style of the engraving improves dramatically and a number of variant bust types are found.” This is an understatement, as this is one of the best examples of a celator’s work from the Alexandrian mint seen by this cataloguer, and most likely represents an engraver who was brought to Alexandria from Rome or one of the mints in Asia Minor.