EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Tetradrachm (Billon, 26 mm, 11.26 g, 12 h), RY 9 = 124/5. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CЄΒ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΕΤ - Θ Helmeted male figure (Ares?) running right, head to left, wearing chlamys and holding uncertain objects in his hands. Dattari (Savio) 7437 = RPC III, pl. 274, 5545 (this coin). Emmett 862.9. K&G -. Apparently unique and of great interest. Somewhat rough and with minor flan faults, otherwise, about very fine.


While the pose of the figure of this unique tetradrachm is very reminiscent of that of the athlete on the Republican denarii struck by L. Plaetorius L.f. Cestianus (Crawford 396/1a), a direct connection is unlikely. A similar tetradrachm has recently appeared in Nomos 28 (lot 1279), but the pose of the figure there is different, more of the body is draped and he wears a small crown, not a helmet, as the figure on this coin appears to do. The reverse of our coin may represent Ares, as Dattari suggested, who compared it with the magnificent bust found on the reverse of lot 2830 below.