Triton XXI, Lot: 224. Estimate $200. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Trajan Decius. AD 249-251. Potin Tetradrachm (24mm, 12.61 g, 12h). Dated RY 1 (AD 249/250). A K Γ M K TPAIANOC ∆ЄKIOC ЄV, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right / Athena Nikephoros enthroned left, holding a scepter with her left hand and crowning Nike in her extended right hand; L A (date) across field. Köln 2812 var. (obv. legend); Dattari (Savio) 10481; K&G 79.11; RPC IX 2241.5 (this coin); Emmett 3632.1; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 225 (this coin). EF, dark brown patina with traces of silvering showing through. An attractive portrait of Decius.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection, purchased from Spink & Son, London, July 1973.

In his book, Giovanni point out, correctly, that the reverse figure should be identified as Roma, not Athena, as it would have been politically correct to identify the figure with the capital of the empire. For consistency purposes, this cataloguer has used the traditional Athena Nikephoros attribution.