Egypt. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Tetradrachm (Billon, 24.15 mm, 13,17 g). Dated RY 10 (= 125/6). AYT KAI TPAI ADPIA CEB Laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev. L ΔE-KATOV (date) Canopic jar right. Geissen 903. Dattari 1325. RPC III, 5578. Milne 1154. Emmett 827. BMC 2839. Cf. Savio, Tetradrammi alessandrini, pp.77-81. Toned. Attractive portrait. Nearly Extremely Fine.

Ex CNA IV, 21 September 1988, lot 275.

The reverse of this interesting tetradrachm depics the “Osiris canopic jar” referring to the pharaonic worship of the sacred Nile river waters. Canopic jars, both of Osiris and of Isis, contained water of the Nile and they were carried in procession in many places all aroung Egypt to propitiate a fruitful flood and a copious harvest.