Extremely Rare – One of Just Two Known

Triton XXI, Lot: 272. Estimate $1000. Sold for $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius. AD 161-180. Æ Hemidrachm (29mm, 15.93 g, 12h). Dated RY 6 (AD 165/166). Μ AV[ΡΗΛΙΟC] ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC, radiate bust right, slight drapery / [Є]VΘH NIA, diademed(?) and draped bust right of Euthenia; before, cornucopia with grain ears protruding; ς/L (date) to right. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) –; K&G –; Emmett –; Staffieri, Alexandria In Nummis 259 (this coin); Staffieri, “La ‘corona radiata’ sui ritratti dei bronzi imperiali alessandrini con catalogo regionata” (NACQT Vol. XLII, Lugano, 2013), pp. 121-144, 53a (this coin – illustrated). Good VF, dark green patina with touches of green, minor roughness. Extremely rare, with only two specimens known.

From the Giovanni Maria Staffieri Collection. Ex Carlo Fontana Collection (Finarte Casa D’Aste 995, 26 November 1996), lot 958, purchased from Mario Ratto, Milan, 1957; Spina Collection.