EGYPT. Oxyrhynchos. Circa 1st-3rd centuries. Tessera (Lead, 19 mm, 3.64 g, 6 h). Helmeted and cuirassed bust of Athena-Thoeris to right; to right, labrys. Rev. ΟΞ Nike advancing left, holding wreath in her left hand. Dattari (Savio) 11719. Emmett 4361 var. (no labrys). Very fine.


Based on the reverse legend, Milne (The Leaden Token-Coinage of Egypt Under The Romans, NC 8 (1908), p. 287-310) has connected these pieces showing Athena to the Middle-Egyptian town of Oxyrhynchos, famed for the massive find of papyri there by Grenfell and Hunt in the late 19th-early 20th century. Athena had a temple dedicated to her in the town and was equated with the Egyptian goddess Thoeris (or Taweret), who served as a local guardian deity. The meaning of the labrys on the obverse is unclear. Athena is also depicted with one on the nome coinage for the Oxyrhynchite nome and we may thus presume that it played a role in her local cult.