Triton XXI, Lot: 143. Estimate $1000. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Antoninus Pius. AD 138-161. BI Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.46 g, 11h). Dated RY 21 (AD 157/158). ANTωNIN OC [C]ЄB ЄVCЄB, laureate bust right, slight drapery / Asklepios standing facing, head right, sacrificing with phiale, held in his right hand, over a garlanded and lighted altar to the left, holding serpent-entwined staff with his left hand; L K A (date) across field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 2159 (this coin); K&G 35.732; Emmett 1364.21 (R2); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 107 (this coin). Choice EF, toned. A rare type, known only for this regnal year, with Asklepios looking right, and this particular variant with Pius’ bust only slightly draped appears to be unique, known only by this coin – the Dattari specimen.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Münz Zentrum 29 (27 April 1977), lot 152; Giovanni Dattari Collection, no. 2159.

Well centered on an extremely large, almost medallic flan, Giovanni describes this coin as “fior di conio”.