

Egypt. Alexandria. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Drachm (Bronze, 35.48 mm, 26.79 g). Dated RY 15 (= 151/2). ΑΥΤ [Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ] ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ϹΕΒ ΕΥϹ Laureate bust left, slight drapery on right shoulder. Rev. Ram standing right, crowned with solar disk and horns; before altar; above, draped bust of Zeus-Ammon right, crowned with solar disk; L IЄ (date) above. Dattari-Savio 2946. RPC IV.4, 1345. 13 (this coin cited and illustrated). Emmett 1701. Geissen 1674. Very Fine.
Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd. 39, 29.04.2018, lot 289.
Laureate head of Antoninus Pius at left looks unusual, showing the first signs of senility. On the reverse, we see the head of Zeus Ammon with ram's horns and a sun disk, correctly combined with the full figure of a ram in front of a sacrificial altar. The ram was in fact the animal sacred to Zeus Ammon with which it is always associated to the point that in Alexandrian coinage, we encounter a tetradrachm of Trajan with Zeus Ammon driving a chariot drawn by two rams on the reverse. (Cf. BMC 405 and see also nr. 146 of the collection)