★ The Phthenotite nome ★

EGYPT. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Obol (Bronze, 19 mm, 5.30 g, 12 h), Phthenotite nome, RY 11 = 126/7. ΑΥΤ ΚΑΙ ΤΡΑΙ ΑΔΡΙΑ CЄΒ Laureate head of Hadrian to right, with slight drapery on his left shoulder. Rev. ΦΘΕΝΕΘΥ / L ΙΑ Apollo-Horus standing front, head to left, holding falcon in both hands. Dattari (Savio) 11176 = RPC III online 6438.13 ( this coin ). Emmett 1268.11. K&G N43.1. Rare. Minor deposits, otherwise, nearly very fine.

From the collection of Eric ten Brink, ex Naville E-Auction 30, 2 April 2017, 376, and that of G. Dattari (1853-1923).

This coin forms part of the 'nome coinage', struck under several emperors starting from Domitian and ending with Antoninus Pius. The division of Egypt into nomes (smaller districts) had its roots in the pharaonic administration, but continued to be used in the Graeco-Roman period. On the reverse of the obols struck by Hadrian (probably for the emperor's decennalia), the respective nomes are identified through the legend and a local deity is depicted.

Our coin was struck for the Phthenotites, located in the Delta, with its capital at Buto. The reverse shows the great Horus of Buto, holding two falcons. One of these represents the goddess Uto, who protected Horus during his infancy from Seth-Typhon. This led her to be conflated by the Greeks with Leto, who protected her children, Apollo and Artemis, from the vengeful Hera and the monstrous Python. This association also led Horus to be identified with Apollo. Though Uto was normally depicted as a cobra, she was eventually also likened to Hathor and Isis, who could be depicted as falcons. The other falcon likely refers to Horus' own cult in Buto, where he was worshipped as the unifier of Upper and Lower Egypt. This cult spread far beyond the nome, as it also attested at Edfu, hundreds of kilometers to the south.