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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

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II.THE ALEXANDRIAN COINAGE OF THEEAELY YEARS OF HADRIAN.[SEE PLATE IV.]THERE are some interesting peculiarities in <strong>the</strong>earliest issues <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Alex<strong>and</strong>rian mint under Hadrianwhich seem to deserve investigation. In <strong>the</strong> followingpaper I have attempted to classify <strong>the</strong>se issues on achronological basis, using for this purpose <strong>the</strong> materialobtained by examination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> collections at <strong>the</strong>British Museum, A<strong>the</strong>ns, <strong>and</strong> Oxford, with my own,<strong>and</strong> adding references to Signer Dattari's catalogue.Specimens <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> more important types are illustratedon <strong>the</strong> Plate.No Alex<strong>and</strong>rian coins <strong>of</strong> Hadrian's first year exist ;but this is not remarkable, as his first year,on <strong>the</strong>Egyptian reckoning, consisted only <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> periodbetween <strong>the</strong> date <strong>of</strong> his accession <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Egyptian year, i. e. August 17 to 29, 117. Possibly<strong>the</strong> news that Trajan was dead <strong>and</strong> Hadrian had beenproclaimed emperor did not reach Alex<strong>and</strong>ria before<strong>the</strong> new year began ; certainly <strong>the</strong>re would have beenno time to cut dies <strong>and</strong> issue coins.Even in <strong>the</strong> second year <strong>the</strong> mint <strong>of</strong>ficials atAlex<strong>and</strong>ria do not appear to have obtained promptinformation as to <strong>the</strong> titles or portrait <strong>of</strong> Hadrian, s<strong>of</strong>ar as can be judged from a few specimens which,

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