EGYPT. Alexandria. Trajan, 98-117. Drachm (Bronze, 34 mm, 22.14 g, 12 h), Aphroditopolite nome, RY 12 = 108/9. ΑΥΤ ΤΡΑΙΑΝ ϹΕΒ ΓΕΡΜ ΔΑΚΙΚ Heroic nude bust of Trajan to right, with aegis on his left shoulder. Rev. [Α]ΦΡΟΔЄΙΤΟΠΟΛΙΤΗC / L IΒ Aphrodite-Hathor standing front, head to left, wearing feathered crown, holding small Isis figure in her right hand and situla in her left. Dattari (Savio) 6190. K&G N3.1. Emmett 745.12. RPC III 6378. Very rare. An unusually attractive example of this very interesting issue. Some deposits, otherwise, 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. The reverse of Trajan’s nome drachms identifies each respective nome through the legend, and a local deity is depicted. In the case of the Aphroditopolite nome, we see the great Egyptian fertility goddess, Hathor, who was related to the Egyptian goddesses, Hesat and Isis, and the Greek goddesses, Demeter and Aphrodite (hence the Greek name of the nome). In the local cult, sacred cows played a key role, and a fascinating letter (P. L. Bat. 20 50) from the Ptolemaic period tells us how the priests of Hathor asked the finance minister Apollonios for myrrh in order to embalm a recently deceased Hesat cow. The connection between Hathor and Isis is made explicit on the present coin as Hathor is holding a figurine of Isis Weret-Hekau, ‘the Great Enchantress’, an aspect of Isis expressing her power over magic, with which she protects both gods and mortals.