★ A unique and impressive tetradrachm from the ten Brink, Staffieri and Dattari Collections ★

EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Tetradrachm (Billon, 25 mm, 12.88 g, 12 h), RY 10 = 125/6. AYT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CЄΒ Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Hadrian to right, seen from behind. Rev. L•ΔΕΚΑΤΟΥ Half-length heroically nude bust of Ares to left, seen from behind, wearing crested Corinthian helmet. Dattari (Savio) 1271 = RPC III, pl. 274, 5568 = Staffieri, Alexandria in Nummis, 57 ( this coin ). Emmett 810.10. K&G 32.353. G. M. Staffieri: Sulla Testimonianza di un Ares Policleteo Nella Monetazione Imperiale Alessandrina, in: NAC 22 (1993), 187-199, fig. 1 ( reverse of this coin illustrated ). Apparently unique. A beautifully toned and impressive piece of excellent style. Light doubling on the obverse and with minor flan faults, otherwise, very fine.

From the collections of Eric ten Brink and G. M. Staffieri, Triton XXI, 9 January 2018, 59, ex Münz Zentrum 29, 27 April 1977, and from the collection of G. Dattari (1853-1923).

Staffieri has suggested that the reverse of this magnificent tetradrachm, which is closely paralleled by a rare series of bronze drachms struck under Antoninus Pius showing a similar reverse (Dattari (Savio) 8306), was derived from a statue in the style of Polykleitos, which possibly stood in the Serapeum-Pantheon in Alexandria.