Egypt. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Drachm (Bronze, 32.92 mm, 22.84 g). RY 19 = year 134/135. [AYT KAIC] TPAIAN AΔP[IANOC CЄΒ] Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind. Rev. L / ЄΝ/ΝЄΑΚΔ Pylon of an Egyptian temple surmounted by statue of Isis standing front, wearing headdress and holding scepter in her right hand. Dattari- Savio 1972. Emmett 996.19. Geissen -. RPC III 6038. K&G 32.670. Flan crack and with light cleaning scratches on the obverse, otherwise, good fine.

From the Rhakotis Collection, formed in the 1960s and 1970s. Ex Leu Numismatik AG 16, 22-24 May 2021, lot 2238.

The images of contemporary egyptian monuments on the reverse of Alexandrian drachms, are rare and precious for the testimony of their existence and the possibility of their identification. In this well centred specimen you recognize the front pylon with double windowed tower of an Hellenistic temple in Egyptian form where above the lintel appears the typical statuary figure of Isis-Demeter-Sothis with the ritual tunic and "basileion", holding sceptre with her right forearms. We suggest it may be the temple of Isis on the island of Philae-Agilkia as described by Staffieri G. M. in "Il tempio di Isis a Philae nella monetazione alessandrina", Quaderni Ticinesi di Numismatica e Antichità Classiche L, 2011, pp. 231-239.