EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Dichalkon (Bronze, 15 mm, 2.22 g, 12 h), Koptite nome, RY 11 = 126/7. Laureate head of Hadrian to right. Rev. KOΠΤ / L - IA Gazelle to right. Dattari (Savio) 10970. Emmett 1279.11. K&G N21.3. RPC III 6277. An unusually sharp and attractive example of this difficult issue, certainly among the finest known. Extremely 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 dichalka struck by Hadrian (probably for the emperor's decennalia), the respective nomes are identified through the legend and a symbol of the local deity is depicted.

The Koptite nome, so called for its nome capital of Koptos, was located in Upper Egypt. The city was of prime economic importance as it lay near the road to the Eastern Desert, where gold, precious gems and stone for construction could be found. Moreover, goods such as spices and incense imported from Punt, Arabia and India also flowed through Koptos after being unloaded at the Red Sea port of Myos Hormos. The reverse of our coin depicts a Dorcas gazelle, the sacred animal of the local Isis cult. The animal already enjoyed a special status in the Middle Kingdom, when a gazelle giving birth showed which stone to use for the sacrophagus of pharaoh Mentuhotep IV (1945-1938 BCE). It was later also worshipped in relation to the cult of Ra.