Egypt. Alexandria. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Drachm (Bronze, 34.17 mm, 25.73 g). Dated RY 5 (= 141/2). [ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ] ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤѠΝ[ΙΝΟС] [СƐΒ ƐVС] Laureate bust right. Rev. The Judgement of Paris: on rocks from left to right, Aphrodite standing left; Hera seated left, holding long sceptre; Athena standing left, holding sceptre; in front of them, Hermes holding caduceus and explaining to Paris the task; at the foot of the rock, the herd of Paris; [L Ɛ] (date) in left field. Dattari-Savio 8848. RPC IV.4, 523.7 (this coin). Berlin 1030/1892 = ZfN 21 (1898), 234–5 (pl. VI, 10) = SAN 6, 3 (1975), 40. Emmett 1633 var. (Hera standing). Near Very Fine/Good Fine. Extremely Rare. Ex Roma Numismatics 43, 03 February 2018, lot 381. This extraordinary drachm is one of the rarest and most sought-after coins of the Alexandrian series, minted in the Antoninian golden age of the great master engravers of the mints of Alexandria in Egypt. Of the mythological "judgment of Paris" of typical classical Greek origin, there are two main versions of the transposition on the reverses of the Alexandrian drachms, with variations in the position of the characters: a very scarce one with the images of Hera standing together with Aphrodite and Athena (Cf. Staffieri G.M., Alexandria in Nummis, nr. 139, pp. 277-278, Muzzano , 2017) and the other, which is practically impossible to find, with Hera seated on a throne with a long scepter, between Aphrodite and Athena, is represented by this specimen. In fact, only the following documented six specimens of this version are known to date: - Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum (cf. Jahrbuch des Deutschen Archäologisches Institut 3, 1888, p. 203, n. 5. - Berlin Museum (cf. ZfN, XXI, 1898, pp. 234-235, Pl. XI, 10). - Auction Münzhandlung Basel 6, 18.03.1936, lot 661 + ill.). - Baldwin Auctions Ltd, London - Münzen und Medaillen Numismatics Ltd, Washington - Italo vecchi Ltd, London : The new York Sale Auction 1, 03.12.1998, lot 175 (Ex Jungfleisch Collection n. 108). - CNG 30, 11.06.1994, lot 487. -this specimen, ex Roma Numismatics 43, 03.02.2018, lot 381. Bibliography: Carlson W. A., Judgment of Paris Drachmae, Additions and Connections, in "Journal of the Society for Ancient Numismatics" (SAN), Vol. VI, Nr. 3, Spring 1975, pp. 40-42. "The story of the judgement of Paris begins at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis (the parents of Achilles) to which every god or goddess was invited except Eris, the goddess of discord. In her anger she threw an apple into the gathering upon which it was written 'To The Fairest'. Three goddesses laid claim to the apple, Athena, Hera and Aphrodite, and it was decided that Zeus would choose the winner. Rather than facing the anger of the two not chosen, Zeus instructed Hermes to lead the goddesses to Paris, a prince of Troy who was known for his fairness. Each goddess offered Paris a bribe: Aphrodite promised the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, as a wife (despite her being married already to the Greek Menelaus); Athena offered strength in battle and wisdom; and Hera offered to make him king of Europe and Asia. Paris chose Aphrodite's gift and thus made himself and Troy enemies of the Greeks and several gods (especially Hera). This animosity culminated in the Trojan War, a ten-year besiegement of Troy by the Greeks which is the central topic of Homer's Iliad."