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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