418, Lot: 424. Estimate $150. Sold for $750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

EGYPT, Alexandria. Faustina Junior. Augusta, AD 147-175. Æ Drachm (32.1mm, 25.08 g, 12h). Dated RY 6 of Marcus Aurelius (AD 165/166). Draped bust right / Two canopic jars of Osiris, both crowned with different headdresses and decorations on the jars; crescent moon between them; L ς (date) across the field. Köln –; Dattari (Savio) 3621; K&G 38.23; Emmett 2289.6 (R5) = Dattari 3621. Good Fine, dark brown patina with traces of green. Extremely rare, none in Coin Archives.

A wonderful type that depicts two canopic jars. Canopic jars were used to store the organs that were removed from the body during the mummification process, specifically the lungs, liver, stomach, and intestines. The term “canopic” to describe such vessels is a misnomer, being derived from the port city of Canopus, where the god Osiris was worshipped in the form of a jar.