EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Obol (Bronze, 19 mm, 5.53 g, 12 h), Prosopite nome, RY 11 = 126/7. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. ΠΡΟCⲰ L IA Herakles-Harpokrates standing front, head to left, wearing hemhem crown, raising his right hand to his mouth and holding falcon-tipped club in his left. Dattari (Savio) 6356 = RPC III online 6399.29 (this coin). Emmett 1233.11. K&G N44.2. Rare. Minor deposits, 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.

For the Proposite nome, located in the southwestern Delta, Herakles-Harpokrates is shown. Harpokrates, a form of Horus, was the son of Osiris and Isis, and is usually depicted as a child or an adolescent. His typical pose is that of lifting his finger to his mouth, which was interpreted by ancient authors as indicating secrecy, but is actually derived from the Egyptian hieroglyph for 'child'. His equation with Herakles probably stems from the fact that Horus too was venerated as a god of war.