Triton XXI, Lot: 183. Estimate $4000. Sold for $2750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Lucius Verus. AD 161-169. Æ Drachm (33mm, 25.45 g, 12h). Dated RY 4 (AD 163/164). [Λ AYΡ]ΗΛΙΟC OYHPΟC CЄB, laureate bust right, slight drapery / Eos advancing left, head right, holding a torch with her right hand and the reins of a horse with her left; the horse is rearing right with its head left; below horse, Hω[C]; above horse, L ∆ (date). Köln 2153 (same dies); Dattari (Savio) 3719 (this coin – reverse illustrated on pl. XII); K&G 39.92 corr. (D. 3719 erroneously listed under 39.93); Emmett 2391.4 (this coin illustrated with commentary on p. 107); Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 183 (this coin). Good VF, attractive dark brown surfaces with areas of green. Rare, with only two inferior examples appearing in auction since 2000.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Kerry K. Wetterstrom Collection (Classical Numismatic Auctions V, 9 December 1988), lot 136; Giovanni Dattari Collection, no. 3719.

Eos, known as Aurora to the Romans, was the goddess of the dawn. Here she is seen preparing one of the two horses that drew her biga (“Firebright” or “Daybright”) for her morning journey across the skies.