EGYPT. Alexandria. Antoninus Pius, 138-161. Drachm (Bronze, 33 mm, 22.62 g, 12 h), Apollonopolite Nome, RY 8 = 144/5. ΑΥΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤⲰΝЄΙΝΟC CЄΒ ЄΥC Laureate head of Antoninus Pius to right. Rev. [ΑΠΟ]ΛΛⲰΝΟΠΟΛΙ[Τ] / L - H Apollo-Horus standing front, head to right, holding falcon in his left hand and scepter in his right. Dattari (Savio) 6203. Emmett 1823.8. K&G N4.6. RPC IV.4 online 15210. Very rare. Light flan cracks and with a light flan fault on the reverse, otherwise, good 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 bronze drachms struck under Antoninus Pius, the respective nomes are identified through the legend and a local deity is depicted. Here we see Horus, conflated with the Greek Apollo, one of the chief deities of the Egyptian pantheon. The Apollonopolite nome is well-known for its nome capital, Edfu, where the massive temple of Horus remains one the best-preserved Egyptian temples to this day. A. Geissen (‘The Nome Coins of Roman Egypt’, in C. Howgego, V. Heuchert & A. Burnett (eds.), Coinage and Identity in the Roman Provinces, Oxford, 2005, p. 167-170) has suggested that the final emission of nome coins in year 8 of Antoninus Pius is most likely linked to the marriage of Marcus Aurelius and Faustina the Younger in the same year.