Exceptional Depiction of Moneta

Triton XXI, Lot: 182. Estimate $3000. Sold for $6500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Drachm (34mm, 22.45 g, 12h). Dated RY 3 (AD 162/163). Λ AYΡΗΛΙΟC OYHPΟC CЄB, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / MONHTA, Moneta standing facing, head left, holding scales with her right hand and pertica (measuring rod) with her left; to right, a statue of Hermanubis(?) standing facing, head left, on a garlanded column; Hermanubis is wearing a kalathos, and holding a coin purse with his right hand and an uncertain object with his left; the column is on a low base, which is decorated with a lion leaping right; on the base, next to the foot of the column, three more coin purses; L Γ (date) below scales. Köln 2142 var. (obv. bust type); Dattari (Savio) 9479 (this coin); K&G 39.57; Emmett 2398.3; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 182 (this coin). Good VF, dark brown patina with touches of green. Extremely rare. Only one other specimen, which graded Near VF and had been cleaned (CNG 63, lot 1101), has appeared in auction since 2000.

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. 9479.

A fascinating type with the statue on the decorated column and base to the right of Moneta. Emmett does not technically list this reverse type with the additional statue, and therefore his rarity rating is for the generic type.