EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Obol (Bronze, 20 mm, 4.86 g, 12 h), Ombite nome, RY 11 = 126/7. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. OMBITHC L IA Apollo-Ares-Haroeris standing front, head to left, holding spear in his right hand and crocodile in his left. Dattari (Savio) 6330. Emmett 1266.11. K&G N36.7. RPC III online 6314.18 (this coin). Extremely rare. Slightly smoothed, otherwise, about very fine.


This coin forms part of the 'nome coinage', struck under several emperors starting from Domitian and ending with Antoninus Pius. The division of Egypt into nomes (smaller districts) had its roots in the pharaonic administration, but continued to be used in the Graeco-Roman period. On the reverse of the obols struck by Hadrian (probably for the emperor's decennalia), the respective nomes are identified through the legend and a local deity is depicted.

This coin was struck for the Ombites, Egypt's southernmost nome. On the reverse we see Haroeris, a military aspect of Horus, who battled the enemies of Ra and was conflated with Apollo by the Greeks. The crocodile he is holding is a reference to the local cult of Sobek, the crocodile god, whose magnificent temple in Kom Ombo can still be visited today. Coincidentally, Lake Nasser, a little further to the south, is the only location in Egypt today where Nile crocodiles still live in the wild.