Triton XXI, Lot: 48. Estimate $2000. Sold for $2500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan. AD 98-117. Æ Drachm (38mm, 31.51 g, 12h). Dated RY 11 (AD 107/108). AVT T PAIAN CЄ B ΓЄPM ∆AKIK, laureate bust right, wearing aegis / Tyche standing facing, head left, holding a rudder with her right hand and a cornucopia with her left; L I A (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 1045 (this coin); K&G 27.115; RPC III 4239/1 (this coin, illustrated on pl. 188); Emmett 605.11 (R5); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 47 (this coin). Near EF, reddish brown patina with patches of green. Struck in high relief. Extremely rare, the authors of RPC cite only two specimens, this coin and an example in Toronto.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection, purchased from Renzo Canavesi, Sagno, 1996. Ex Renzo Canavesi Collection (Sagno); Dr. Piero Beretta Collection (Milan); Giovanni Dattari Collection, no. 1045.

In his book, Giovanni makes a persuasive case that this coin, only one of two known, is of a medallic nature. The second example in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto was not seen by the authors of RPC (it is listed in The Roman Coins of Alexandria by Erik Christiansen), hence its condition and quality are uncertain.