EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Obol (Bronze, 20 mm, 4.34 g, 12 h), for the Alexandrian chora, RY 11 = 126/7. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. ΑΛΕΞ Χ / L ΙΑ Ares-Horus standing front, head to right, holding spear in his right hand and hippopotamus in his left. Dattari (Savio) 10856 = RPC III online 6455.26 (this coin). Emmett 1251.11. K&G N1.2. Very rare. Minor deposits and somewhat 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 so-called chora of Alexandria, i.e. the region surrounding the capital. It had a separate nome capital at Hermopolis parva, probably in the vicinity of modern-day Damanhur. As our coin shows, the cult of Horus was important in the area, and although Horus was often identified as Apollo, his warlike nature sometimes also led to his conflation with Ares. He is shown holding a hippopotamus, an animal which was ubiquitous in the region during Antiquity. Likely, it refers to the cult of the 'White Hippopotamus', the protectress of pregnant women and children.