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AR25 - Antoninus Pius L Β
| Issuer | Alexandria (Egypt) |
|---|---|
| Year | 138-139 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Laureate and draped bust of Antoninus Pius facing right, with aegis visible at the shoulder truncation, rendered in the provincial Alexandrian style. The emperor's portrait displays finely detailed curled hair and beard characteristic of his early reign coinage. The encircling Greek legend reads outward from the bust toward the coin's periphery. The flan is irregular and slightly convex, typical of Alexandrian billon tetradrachm production. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
This tetradrachm belongs to the second regnal year of Antoninus Pius, meaning it was struck within months of Hadrian's death in July 138 AD — a transitional moment in which the new emperor moved quickly to secure his position, most visibly by compelling the Senate to deify his predecessor over considerable resistance. The Alexandrian mint was among the first provincial operations to reflect the new reign in its coinage, with L Β pieces appearing almost immediately after the accession.
The billon content of Alexandrian tetradrachms had been declining steadily since Nero's debasement of the series in 64 AD.