1.2.3.3 Roman Egypt

From the time of the Pharaohs, Egypt was a closed society, its economy controlled for maximum tax revenue. The Ptolemies created a unique coinage system which the Romans continued. The drachma was equal to a Roman sestertius. Coinage of Roman Egypt was struck in bronze and in billon, a silver alloy. A billon tetradrachm equalled a Roman denarius.

Hemidrachm of Hadrian

Drachms, hemidrachms, and lower denominations were struck in bronze through the 2nd century, before inflation obsoleted these denominations. These circulated for hundreds of years, and it is rare to find one that grades above Fine. The billon tetradrachm was later debased by replacing silver with lead, until its alloy became potin. The last Provincial coins were potin tetradrachms struck in 296.

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*GI1097 3594 Trajan: AE 14 dichalkon of Alexandria $35.00** Obv. -- Laur. hd. r. Rev. L IZ Hem-hem crown 1.53 g Sear GI 1097v; Emmet 707 Fine, green patina	*GI1260 2972 Antoninus Pius: AE 23 Diobol $125.00** Obv. Laur. bust r. Rev. L B Eagle stg. l. 8.20br> Sear GI 1260v, Dattari 3115. VF, dark green patina
*GI3385 2546 Severus Alexander: Billon 22 Tetradrachm $115.00** Obv. Laur. bust r. Rev. Eagle stg. r., hd. turned l. 14.82 g Sear 3385v; Emmett 3100(12); Milne 3128 nice VF	GI4750 3596 Aurelian: Potin 19 tetradrachm of Alexandria $35.00 Obv. Laur., dr. & cuir. bust r. Rev. LIA Eagle stg. l., hd. turned r. 7.61 g Sear GI 4750; Curts 1775 VF