Egypt. Alexandria. Trajan, 98-117. Drachm (Bronze, 35.20 mm, 21.61 g). Dated L IB = year 12 (108 / 109 AD). ΑΥΤ TPAIAN CEB ΓEPM ΔAKIK Laureate and cuirassed bust of Trajan right wearing chlamys. Rev. Anepigraph; In the centre, a building (fountain, nymphaeum) consisting of a tall rectangular base used as a water basin, finished with two Ionic pilasters (?), on whose façade leonine proptomes are applied as fountain mouths. Above, a portico supported by four columns of the Corinthian order, with an Asiatic base; in the intercolumniums are three statues of deities: in the centre, a naked Zeus of the Roman type of Jupiter Stator holding a sceptre with his left arm and extending his right arm in whose hand he appears to hold a bundle of lightning; at his sides, two female figures facing and dressed in chiton. The columns support a rectilinear lintel, which serves as porch’s roof where an eagle is standing, with outstretched wings, and facing with head turned to left towards Jupiter, while at the lintel ends are two palmette acroteria. In the field, the date L IB. Vogt I, pp.76-77. Vogt II, p. 29. Dattari - Savio 7225, this coin shown. RPC III 4317.1, this coin shown. Emmett 4946 for rarety (5) and reverse tipology. Staffieri, G. M., “La fontana di Traiano nella monetazione alessandrina” in “Quaderni ticinesi di Numismatica e Antichità Classiche” (NAC), XLIII, 2014, pp. 255-263. Fine, especially if compared with the reverse of similar but not identic drachms.

Ex Giovanni Dattari Collection 7225, Il Cairo. Ex Kölner Münzkabinett, 17/18. 04.1998, lot 271.

First of all I refer to the study above mentioned, published by me in NAC 2014 referring to this coin, now updated following further examinations, comparisons and what suggested by RPC III 4317.1, plate 193 and RPC III 4317.2.1/4. This coin is absolutely rare: RPC knows only one item with such an obverse, shown at plate 193, while it records four coins with similar reverse, see RPC III 4217.2.1/4. Secondly, this specimen presents an absolutely anomalous and unusual technical characteristic compared to the normal system of Alexandrian coinage: in fact on the planchet the usual positions of the obverse and reverse are reversed, i.e. we note here on the obverse the portrait of Trajan struck with the respective minting in the position of an anvil (therefore more subject to deterioration) instead of the correct one of a hammer, a fact which takes on a further exceptional character, such as the demonstrated uniqueness of the obverse. But the greatest value of the coin is given by the reproduction on its reverse of a real Alexandrian monument, a fountain or nymphaeum otherwise unknown and no longer available today despite it being depicted here as real and complete as well as temporally circumstantiated at the issue of the drachm (108/109 AD) and confirmed by the contemporary documentary testimony of the historian Dione "Chrysostom" of Prusa in his "Oration to the Alexandrians" recited in the theater of the Egyptian capital.