Year 6 of Hadrian's reign coincides almost exactly with his first major tour of the eastern provinces, a journey that reshaped imperial policy toward Alexandria and Egypt more broadly. The city's mint was unusually responsive to the emperor's movements — issue types shifted noticeably during and after his visits, making regnal-year attribution here more than a bookkeeping exercise.
Alexandrian silver tetradrachms of this period are billon in all but name; true fine silver issues are exceptional. A piece catalogued as silver at 12.37g sits at the heavier end of the weight spectrum for this type, worth noting against Milne's documented range.
Year 6 of Hadrian's reign coincides almost exactly with his first major tour of the eastern provinces, a journey that reshaped imperial policy toward Alexandria and Egypt more broadly. The city's mint was unusually responsive to the emperor's movements — issue types shifted noticeably during and after his visits, making regnal-year attribution here more than a bookkeeping exercise.
Alexandrian silver tetradrachms of this period are billon in all but name; true fine silver issues are exceptional. A piece catalogued as silver at 12.37g sits at the heavier end of the weight spectrum for this type, worth noting against Milne's documented range.