Egypt. Alexandria. Marcus Aurelius, 161-180. Drachm (Bronze, 32.80 mm, 31.06 g) dated RY 16 (= 175-176) Μ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟϹ ΑΝΤωΝΙ[ΝΟϹ ϹЄ] Laureate bust of Marcus Aurelius right, slightly draped on the left shoulder. Rev. Boat of Osiris on wheels, surmounted by five hawks to left crowned with skhents, containing statue of Osiris (?) facing inside cell, hawks on columns to either sides of cell, hawks on torches inside each outer side of boat, L Iζ (date) across fields. RPC IV.4, 3259.4 (this coin cited). Dattari-Savio 3557 corr., pl. XXVII (rev.), 3557. Emmett 2161 (5). Milne - . Dark-brown tone and rough/porous surfaces. Good Fine. Ex Kölner Münzkabinett 66, 21-22.04.1997, lot 583. Drachm of special charm and absolute rarity, particularly sought after for the image of the reverse, where we admire the "sacred boat of Osiris", a typical processional element of the most ancient pharaonic cult, taken up in the Greco-Roman era. To this special representation on Alexandrian coins, Staffieri G. M. and Tosi M. have dedicated an essay published in the volume "Aegyptiaca serta in Soheir Bakhorum Memoriam", Parigi-Milano, 2008, pp. 229-233 to which reference should be made for a detailed examination of the religious and numismatic context of this subject. RPC IV.4, 3259 considers three specimens, included this one to the no. 3.