Roman Egypt
The coinage of Roman Egypt occupies a unique place in ancient numismatics. After Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire under Augustus in 30 BC, it retained its own distinctive monetary system centered at the mint of Alexandria. Unlike most Roman provinces, Egypt used closed local currency that circulated almost exclusively within the province itself.
Roman Egyptian coins were struck in bronze, billon, and occasionally gold, with denominations based on the Greek drachm system rather than the Roman denarius. Portraits of emperors such as Hadrian and Antoninus Pius appeared on the obverse, while reverses often featured Egyptian deities like Isis, Serapis, and Anubis alongside Greek and Roman imagery.
These coins are especially valued for their detailed dating system, which recorded the regnal year of each emperor in Greek numerals. Roman Egyptian coinage reflects the blending of Roman authority, Greek culture, and ancient Egyptian religious traditions.
Nero Billon Tetradrachm (24mm 13.18g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 65-66
Obv: ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑΥ Radiate bust right, wearing aegis
Rev: AYTOKPA Draped bust of Alexandria right in elephant skin headdress, LIB (RY 12) to right
Emmett 109, RPC 5289
Nero Billon Tetradrachm (24x25mm 12.24g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 65-66
Obv: ΝΕΡΩ ΚΛΑΥ ΚΑΙΣ ΣΕΒ ΓΕΡ ΑΥ Radiate bust of Nero, left. LIΔ(RY 14)
Rev: ΠΙΘΙΟΣ ΑΠΟΛΛΩΝ Laureate bust of Apollo right, quiver at shoulder
Emmett 112, Milne 288
Vespasian Billon Tetradrachm (23mm 8.1g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 70-71
Obv: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY Laureate head right, LΓ before (year 3)
Rev: EI PH NH Eirene standing left, holding branch and caduceus
Emmett 203 Milne 405
Vespasian Bronze Diobol (24mm 11.2g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 72-73
Obv: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY Laureate head right, LE before (year 5)
Rev: Bust of Isis right LE in right field
Emmet 217 Milne 428
Vespasian Bronze Diobol (25mm 8.56g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 74-75
Obv: AYTOK KAIΣ ΣEBA OYEΣΠAΣIANOY Laureate head right, LE before (year 5)
Rev: Serapis bust r. LZ (year 7) in right field, T in left
Emmett 218
Antoninus Pius Bronze Drachm (33.7mm 25.6g) Alexandria AD 138-161
Obv: Emperors laureate bust left
Rev: Elpis standing left holding flower and raising skirt
Emmett 1501
Antoninus Pius Billon Tetradrachm (25mm 14.25g)
Alexandria Egypt AD 145-156
Obv: ANTΘNEINOC CEB EVCEB Laureate head at right.
Rev: Eagle standing facing with open wings and looking to the left. L ENATOV (year 9)
Emmett 1378
Bronze Diobol (24mm 8.04g) of Hadrian AD 131-132 Alexandria
Obv: AVT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CEB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right
Rev: Isis enthroned right, nursing Harpocrates; Lς (date RY 16) across field.
Emmett 1138
Philip I Billon Tetradrachm (22mm, 11.93g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 247-248
Obv A K M IOV ΦIΛΠΠOC EV Laureate bust right
Rev: Nike advancing right holding wreath in front, palm branch behind left shoulder, in front regnal year LE in right field (year 5)
Emmett 3493
Gallienus Billon Tetradrachm (22mm, 9.51g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 264-265
Obv: AVT K Π ΛIK ΓAΛΛIHNOC CEB Laureate bust right
Rev: Homonia seated left on throne LIB on left, palm on right (year 12)
Emmet 3817, Milne 4107 ex.Curtis Collection
Claudius II Billon Tetradrachm (20mm, 9.48g)
Alexandria Egypt AD 268-269
Obv: AVT K KΛAVΔIOC CEB, Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: Eagle standing right with wreath in beak L B (year 2) across field
Emmett 3877 Milne 4276
Claudius II Billon Tetradrachm (21mm, 9.27g)
Alexandria Egypt AD 268-269
Obv: AVT K KΛAVΔIOC CEB, Laureate and draped bust right
Rev:Nike advancing right, LB in right field (year 2)
Emmett 3889
Aurelian Billon Tetradrachm (20mm,6.79g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 270-275
Obv: A K Λ ΔOM AVPHΛIANOC CEB. Laureate head right
Rev: Eagle standing left, head right, wings open. Wreath in beak L ?(uncertain year, date missing)
Emmett 3923
Aurelian Billon Tetradrachm (21mm, 8g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 274-275
Obv: A K Λ ΔOM AVPHΛIANOC CEB. Laureate head right
Rev: Eagle standing right, palm on wing and a wreath in it's beak ETOVC S (year 6)
Emmett 3927ex Marc Breitsprecher ex Eardley and Ethel Masden Collection
Severina Billon Tetradrachm (19.4 mm, 7.6g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 274-275
Obv: ΟΥΑΠ ϹΕVΗΡΙΝΑ ϹΕΒ. Diademed head right
Rev: Dikaiosyne standing to left, holding scales and cornucopia. ETOVC Z (year 7)
Emmett 3994
ex John Aiello, ex iNumis Mail Bid Sale 9, 23 October, 2009, 283.
Probus Billon Tetradrachm (20mm,6.79g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 277-278
Obv: A K M AVP ΠPOBOC CEB. Laureate head right
Rev: Eagle standing left, head right, wreath in beak LΓ (year 3)
Emmett 3985
Probus Billon Tetradrachm (20mm, 8.17g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 277-278
Obv: A K M AVP ΠPOBOC CEB. Laureate head right
Rev: Tyche standing left holding rudder & cornucopiae LΓ (year 3)
Emmett 3994
Carinus (as Caesar) Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 7.02g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 283
Obv: A K M A KAPINOC K Laureate head right
Rev: LA (year 1) Eagle standing left, head right wings open between vexilla. Wreath in beak
Emmett 4005
Carinus Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 7.1g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 284
Obv: A K M A KAPINOC CEB Laureate head right
Rev: LB (year 2) Elpis standing left, holding flower in her right hand and raising skirt with her left.
Emmett 4007
Numerian Billon Tetradrachm (18mm, 8.22g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 284
Obv: A K M A NOVMΕPAINOC CEB Laureate bust right
Rev: Athena seated left on throne, holds Nike and Spear L in left field, B with a star above in right field (year 2)
Emmett 4013
Numerian Billon Tetradrachm (18mm, 7.33g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 284
Obv: A K M A NOVMΕPAINOC CEB Laureate bust right
Rev:Eagle standing left, head right, wreath in beak, between two vexilla, wreath in it's beak LB above(year 2)
Emmett 4018
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 8.07g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 285-286
Obv: A K Γ OVA Λ ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: LB (year 2) Dikaiosyne standing left wearing veil over head; holding scales in right hand, and a cornucopiae in left hand
Emmett 4033 Curtis 1967
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (17.3mm, 7.87g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 294-295
Obv: ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: LIA (year 11) Eagle standing left, head right, wreath in beak
Emmet 4037 Curtis 1975v
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (18mm, 7.81g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 284-285
Obv: A K Γ OVA Λ ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: LA (year 1) lpis standing left, holding flower, a long sash hanging from her arm, & clutching hem of robe.
Emmett 4046
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 7.22g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 292-293
Obv: ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: L in right field ENATOV (year 9) in left. lpis standing left, holding flower, a long sash hanging from her arm, & clutching hem of robe.
Emmett 4046 Milne 506
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (17.5mm, 7.58g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 288-289
Obv: A K Γ OVA Λ ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: LE (year 5) Eusebia standing left, sacrificing over lighted altar from patera, left hand enfolded in peplos.
Emmett 4052 Milne4897
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (17.3 mm, 7.85g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 287-288
Obv: A K Γ OVA Λ ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: LΔ (year 4)Nike advancing right
Emmett 4066 Curtis 2008
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (19.6 mm, 7.8g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 286-287
Obv: A K Γ OVA ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: ETOVC Γ (year 3)Tyche standing leftholding cornucopia, right hand on rudder, star in left field
Emmett 4082 Curtis 2030
Diocletian Billon Tetradrachm (19.8 mm, 7.7g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 286-287
Obv: A K Γ OVA ΔIOKAHTIANOC CEB Laureate and draped bust right
Rev: L Γ (year 3) Tyche standing leftholding cornucopia, right hand on rudder, star in left field
Emmett 4082 Curtis 2030
Maximian Billon Tetradrachm (20mm, 7.49g)
Alexandria, Egypt AD 288-289
Obv: AK MA OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB Laureate bust right
Rev: LΔ (year 4) Alexandria standing left holding the head of Serapis in left hand and a scepter in her right
Emmett 4093 Curtis 2052
Maximian Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 7.38g)
Alexandrian, Egypt AD 288-289
Obv: AK MA OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB Laureate bust rightt
Rev: LΔ (year 4) Alexandria standing left holding the head of Serapis in left hand and a scepter in her right
Emmett 4093 Curtis 2052
Maximian Billon Tetradrachm (17mm, 7.11g)
Alexandrian, Egypt AD 286-287
Obv: AK MA OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB Laureate bust rightt
Rev: LB (year 2) Eagle standing left, head turned back, with wreath in beak
Emmett 4108
Maximian Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 7.33g)
Alexandrian, Egypt AD 292-293
Obv: MAΞIMIANOC CEB Laureate bust right
Rev: LH (year 8) Elpis standing left holding a flower in her right hand, lifting the hem of her skirt with her left hand
Emmett 4114
Maximian Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 6.4g)
Alexandrian, Egypt AD 287-288
Obv: AK MA OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB Laureate bust rightt
Rev: LΓ (year 3) Homonia standing left holding double cornucopia
Emmett 414
Maximian Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 8.87g)
Alexandrian, Egypt AD 287-288
Obv: AK MA OVA MAΞIMIANOC CEB Laureate bust right
Rev: LΓ (year 3) Nike advancing right carrying wreath and palm, star in right field
Emmett 4147
Maximian Billon Tetradrachm (19mm, 7.22g)
Alexandrian, Egypt AD 291-292
Obv: MAΞIMIANOC CEB Laureate bust right
Rev: LZ (year 7) Nike advancing right carrying wreath and palm,
Emmett 4147
