EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Obol (Bronze, 20 mm, 5.53 g, 12 h), Lykopolite nome, RY 11 = 126/7. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. ΛΥKO L IA Wepwawet standing front, head to left, wearing atef crown and holding jackal in his right hand. Dattari (Savio) 6288 = RPC III 6349.23 (this coin). Emmett 1263.11. K&G N27.1. 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.

The tutelary deity of the Lykopolite nome (Greek for 'the nome of the wolf') was Wepwawet, whose sacred animal was a hybrid of a fox and a jackal, though the Greeks considered it to be a wolf. The god was known to the Egyptians as the 'Opener of Ways', as he was believed to precede the Egyptian armies on their military campaigns, protecting the pharaoh. Likewise, he protected tombs and mummies from desecration.