406, Lot: 640. Estimate $150. Sold for $320. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. BI Tetradrachm (24mm, 13.17 g, 12h). Dated RY 6 (AD 142/143). Laureate head right / Phoenix standing right; AIωN above, L - ς (date) across field. Köln 1424-5; Dattari (Savio) 2431; K&G 35.180; Emmett 1419.6. Good VF, toned.

From the B.H. Webb Collection.

AD 139 marked the renewal of the Great Sothic Cycle, a cycle of 1461 years beginning when the star Sothis (Sirius) rises on the same point on the horizon as the sun. This tetradrachm type was initially minted in year 2 (AD 138/139), but was reintroduced again for year 6 of Pius’ reign.