Despite its ancient status and economic important, Egypt didn't begin striking coins until after its conquest by Alexander and his founding of Alexandria. The first coins were similar to the coins struck in the other Greek/Macedonian kingdoms, in which the workhorse was the silver tetradrachm of 17 grams or so. That large silver coin gradually—over a period of almost 600 years—became debased until, by Diocletian's reign, it had devolved into the small, thick bronze coins shown here.

These were the last authorized locally produced coins in the empire, the last vestige of the local municipal coinages that were widepsread in the eastern empire until the late 3rd century. Diocletian's decision to eliminate these local coins and have the Alexandria mint strike his new standard imperial bronze coins, thereby integrating the Eqyptian monetary system with the rest of the empire, no doubt was one of the factors behind the revolt of Domitius Domitianus in 295.

204-370

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Maximianus augustus

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 290/291

obv.- MAΞIMIANOC CEB; laureate draped bust right

rev.- [no legend]; Herakles standing half-left, holding Nike confronted and club downward, star in upper right field, date L — S (=year 6)

Milne 4977. Emmett 4130

19mm; 8.13g; tetradrachm

First reformed coinage

Following Diocletian's establishment of his tetrarchic system, the Alexandria mint fell in Diocletian's sphere of direct control. Diocletian ended the mint's traditional independence, striking the same orthodox denominations and imperial themes as the other mints.

104-735

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Diocletian augustus

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 294

obv.- IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laur bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, holding patera in left hand, cornucopiae in right; A in field, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 14a; Fail 006

27mm; 10.3g; nummus

First issue from Alexandria

Coinage of Domitius Domitianus

Diocletian's attempts to bring Alexandria in line with the rest of the empire proved to be difficult. In 295 or 296—the chronology is uncertain—Alexandria came under the control of a usurper named Domitius Domitianus. Domitianus began striking coins on the same imperial model as the other mints, both in his name and that of the other tetrarchs. This was similar to Carausius in Britain—the message wasn't that Diocletian was overthrown, but that Domitianus was a member of the imperial college alongside him.

Domitianus' imperial bronze coins are distinguished by the eagle accompanying Genius on the reverse; this is probably a nod to the eagle that was a symbol of the Ptolemaic dynasty and which was a fixture on their coinage.

104-671

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Maximianus augustus

—struck by Domitius Domitianus

Alexandria, 295-296

obv.- IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing facing, head left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, liquors flowing from patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left; eagle | Γ infield; ALE in exergue

RIC VI Ale 18b; Fail 007

26mm; 10.4g; nummus

Struck under the control of Domitius Domitianus

104-984

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Domitius Domitianus augustus

—struck by Domitius Domitianus

Alexandria, 297-298

obv.- IMP C L DOMITIVS DOMITIANVS AVG; laur bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing facing, head left, holding patera and cornucopia; to left below, eagle standing left, head right; B in field; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 20; Fail 007

26mm; 9.85g; nummus

From the John A. Seeger Collection.

104-944

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Diocletian augustus

—struck by Domitius Domitianus

Alexandria, 296

obv.- IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing facing, head left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, liquors flowing from patera in right hand, cornucopiae in left; eagle * | B in field; ALE in exergue

RIC VI Ale 22a; Fail 007

26mm; 11.4g; nummus

Struck under the control of Domitius Domitianus

Resumption of imperial control

No later than 298 Diocletian had crushed the revolt and reassumed control over the mint. Beginning around 300/301, the symbols XXI appear on the bronze coins as a value mark, in connection with Diocletian's empire-wide price reforms. These indicate that the value of the coin is 20 sestertii (or a ratio of XX :: I), equal to 5 denarii.

In 304, new reverse types appear, featuring Jupiter and Hercules. These symbolize the two imperial "houses" of Jupiter (Diocletian and Galerius) and Hercules (Maximianus and Constantius) and stress the divine foundation of the tetrarchic system.

204-267

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Galerius caesar

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 297-298?

obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; radiate draped cuirassed bust right

rev.- CONCORDIA MILITVM; Prince standing right in military dress, receiving Victory on globe from Jupiter, leaning on scepter; A in field, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 48b

23mm; 3.5g; antoninianus

These smaller coins were intended to complement the larger nummi as a fractional denomination. These were tariffed as 2 denarii, vs. 5 denarii for the larger full-sized nummi. As such, they represent a continuation of the pre-reform antoninianus from before 294, which was originally introduced as a 2-denarius coin. However, these coins no longer made any pretense of having any silver content or silver wash, and were simply pure bronze. The silver wash was instead used for the larger bronze coins. It is not clear what these coins were called, post-294 — the literature refers to them simply as "radiate fractions" — but I've kept the pre-reform term "antoninianus" since the nominal value is the same.

104-537

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Maximianus augustus

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 300

obv.- IMP C MA MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left, holding cornucopia and patera, ALE in ex, XXI | B in field

RIC VI Ale 30b; Fail 25

28mm; 10.8g; nummus

Scarcer variety with XXI in field — only struck in single issue at Siscia and Alexandria

204-339

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Constantius I caesar

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 301

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left holding a patera and cornucopiae. XX in left field, Δ-I in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 33a

27mm; 10.6g; nummus

204-048

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Constantius I caesar

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 301

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius of the roman people standing left holding a patera and cornucopiae. XX in left field, Γ-I" in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 33a

28mm; 9.7g; nummus

204-262

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Maximianus augustus

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 304-305

obv.- IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; Laureate bust right

rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing facing, head left, leaning on his club and holding apples; a lion's skin hangs from his elbow; SP-gamma in fields; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 38; Fail 026

28mm; 9.1g; nummus

204-337

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Maximianus augustus

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 304-305

obv.- IMP C M A MAXIMIANVS PF AVG; Laureate bust left

rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules standing facing, head left, leaning on his club and holding apples; a lion's skin hangs from his elbow; S | Γ-P in fields; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 39

27mm; 10g; nummus

rated R3 in RIC. Technically, this type is unlisted for left-facing bust; RIC 39 references bust type B, which is radiate bust right, instead of bust type C, which is this one, but IMO this is simply a typo in RIC. The radiate bust type makes no sense at all for this type (that was used exclusively for the fractions), on the other hand, for all of the other tetrarchs, a left-bust variety like this one is catalogued.

204-310

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Constantius I caesar

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 304-305

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTIVS NOB CAES; Laureate head right

rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules stg fcing, head left, leaning on club, holding apples, lion skin draped from elbow; S | Γ P in fields; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 40

26mm; 10.5g; nummus

104-529

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Constantius I caesar

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 304-305

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTIVD NOB CAES;

rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules stg fcing, head left, leaning on club, holding apples, lion skin draped from elbow

RIC VI Ale 40; Fail 26

27mm; 10.9g; nummus

104-528

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Diocletian augustus

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 304-305

obv.- IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG;

rev.- IOVI CONS CAES; Jupiter stg left holding Victory on globe; S-Δ-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 41; Fail 27

27mm; 10.2g; nummus

204-320

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Diocletian augustus

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 304-305

obv.- IMP C DIOCLETIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust left

rev.- IOVI CONS CAES; Jupiter standing left, holding Victory on globe and scepter; S | A P in fields; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 42

26mm; 10.2g; nummus

ex Elliot-Kent Collection. not catalogued in RIC for officina A

104-552

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Galerius caesar

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 304-305

obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS NOB CAES; laur b r

rev.- IOVI CONS CAES; Jupiter holding l, holding Victory on globe, leaning on sceptre; S|A/P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 43; Fail 27

26mm; 10.5g; nummus

Second Tetrarchy

Following the abdication of Diocletian in 305, control of the mint passed to the new caesar, Maximinus II. Alexandria struck several new types commemorating the renewed tetrachy: Concordia, to stress the harmony among the new colleagues, and Perpetuitas, to emphasize the continued eternal nature of the imperial system.

104-881

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Maximinus II caesar

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 305-307

obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; laureate bust right

rev.- CONCORD IMPERII; Concordia standing facing, head left, leaning on sceptre and holding fold of drapery; S-Δ/P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 52; Fail 042

28mm; 8.1g; nummus

This was struck in the name of both new caesars, Maximinus II and Severus II, expressing the "concord" of the new imperial college.

204-311

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Constantius I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 306

obv.- IMP C CONSTANTIVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- HERCVLI VICTORI; Hercules stg fcing, head left, leaning on club, holding apples, lion skin draped from elbow; S | P B in fields; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 53

27mm; 9.5g; nummus

204-302

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Constantine I caesar

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 306-307

obv.- FL VAL CONTANTINVS NOB CAES; laureate bustright

rev.- PERPET V ITAS AVGG; Roma seated left on throne, holding Victory on globe and scepter; round shield below; S | Δ P in fields; ALE in exergue

RIC VI Alex 63; Fail 050

27mm; 8.9g; nummus

Note misspelled obverse legend ("CONTANTINVS"). RIC notes two coins with this legend mistake in Vienna collection, from same dies, also from officina Δ, so perhaps this coin is a third. From the White Mountain Collection; previously, from Pierre Bastien Collection (ex Münzen und Medaillen 61, 7 October 1982), lot 1431. Rated R in RIC

In 308, coinage patterns shift in response to the political events in the West. In 308, Galerius' wife, Galeria Valeria, was formally proclaimed augusta, and consequently coins began to be issued in her name. The Carnuntum Conference in November 308 provoked further shifts. Coins are struck for the new augustus, Licinius; also, coins struck in Constantine's name use the new official title of filius augustorum that was conferred at Carnuntum. Since this title was seen as an insult by both Constantine and Maximinus, Maximinus only uses it for Constantine's coins. By 310, this title was abandoned and both Constantine and Maximinus II were titled augustus, same as Galerius and Licinius.

Also, following Carnuntum, the character of the Genius coinage shifts. Instead of celebrating the Genius of the Roman people, the legends now celebrate the Genius of the individual rulers. This happened throughout the eastern mints and so probably reflected the wishes of Galerius.

104-963

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Galeria Valeria augusta

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308

obv.- GAL VALERIA AVG; Draped bust right, crested hairstyle with stephane

rev.- VENERI VICTRICI; Venus, stg. facing, head l., r. holding up apple, l. raising drapery over l.shoulder; In fields: ?-P | R; In ex: ALE

RIC VI Ale 74

25mm; 6.8g; nummus

204-029

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Galeria Valeria augusta

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308

obv.- GAL VALERIA AVG; Draped bust right; crested hairstyle with stephane

rev.- VENERI VICTRICI; Venus, stg. facing, head l., r. holding up apple, l. raising drapery over l.shoulder; B-X | K in fields; In ex: ALE

RIC VI Ale 81

24mm; 6.2g; nummus

204-094

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Constantine I fil aug

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTINVS FIL AVG; laureate bust right; divergent ties (α)

rev.- GENIO CAESARIS; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked except for chlamys over left shoulder, holding patera and cornucopiae, K in left field, A-P in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 99b

24mm; 6.0 g; nummus

Coins with the filius augustorum title are much more common from the mints controlled by Galerius (such as Siscia and Thessalonica), since the title was his idea and he would have been interested in promoting it. Less common from mints controlled by Maximinus, who was anxious to ditch the whole concept ASAP. However, since Galerius was his patron, he had to acknowledge it to some extent, hence the scarce coinage such as this example. Constantine himself, not bound by any such concerns, never struck any coins with this title at any mints under his control, either in his name or Maximinus' name. Listed S in RIC.

204-256

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Maximinus II caesar

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; Laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO CAESARIS; K|epsilon-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 100a; Fail 193

25mm; 6.8g; nummus

104-798

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Maximinus II caesar

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; l-b-r

rev.- GENIO CAESARIS; K|epsilon-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 100a; Fail 193

24mm; 7.1g; nummus

"Damnatio" scratch across face. This is a rather evocative relic of the period. Galerius and Maximinus spearheaded the last and most vicious persecution of ancient Christian communities. A silent protest of many Christians was to deface the imperial portrait on their coins.

204-282

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; Genius of the emperor standing left, chlamys over shoulder, modius on head, pouring libation from patera & holding cornucopiae; K-E-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 101a

25mm; 6.6g; nummus

104-802

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Licinius I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- IMP C GAL LIC LININIVS P F AVG; laur bust r

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; K-Δ-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 105b; Fail 197e

24mm; 6.5g; nummus

204-343

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Licinius I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- IMP C VAL LIC LICINIVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; Genius standing left holding a patera and cornucopiae. K in left field, S-P in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 107b

25mm; 7.4g; nummus

204-156

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- FL VAL CONSTANTINVS AVG; Laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO IMPERATORIS; K-A-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 108

26.5mm; 6.0g; nummus

204-115

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Diocletian commem

—struck by Diocletian

Alexandria, 308

obv.- DN DIOCLETIANO BEATISS; laureate bust right, in imperial mantle

rev.- PROVIDENTIAE DEORVM; Providentia standing, extending hand to Quies standing, holding branch and leaning on sceptre, epsilon / KP in field, ALE in exergue

RIC VI Ale 109

mm; 7.0g; nummus

from T L Taylor Collection; ex Manton Associates, 1994

104-983

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Galerius augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 308-310

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- VIRTVS EXERCITVS; Virtus advancing right, holding spear, shield, and trophy, ALE in exergue, K/SP in fields

RIC Vi Ale 111a

24mm; 7.5g; nummus

Listed as S in RIC

Following death of Galerius

Following death of Galerius in May 311, Maximinus became even more independent and assertive in both Alexandria and Antioch.

104-910

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Galerius commem

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 311

obv.- DIVO MAXIMIANO MAXIMINVS AVG FIL; Laureate head right, divergent laurel ties

rev.- AETERMAE MEMORIAE GAL MAXIMIANI; Eagle standing left above garland on horned, lit altar; Crescent / K | G / P across fields ; ALE in exergue

RIC VI Ale 133; Fail 184

25mm; 7g; nummus

The reverse legend AETERNAE is misspelled as AETERMAE

104-895

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Maximinus II augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 311

obv.- GAL VAL MAXIMINVS NOB CAES; laur bust right

rev.- BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS; Genius holding patera and cornucopiae; crescent-K | A-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 134 [var]

26mm; 7.8g; nummus

This reverse type is only catalogued for Maximinus as Augustus, after the death of Galerius. So the existence of this coin pushes the date for the BONO GENIO PII type to before the death of Galerius, into the Group IV coinage.

From 308-310, the Genius coins from Alexandria had two different reverse legends : Genio Caesaris for the Caesars, and Genio Imperatoris for the Augusti. The final Caesar coins struck in the name of Maximinus were issued during this period. For 310 and beyond (once the star control mark is added to the field) only the Genio Imperatoris types are recorded for all of the augusti, and no coins are struck for anyone as caesar.

So this coin represents the only use of Maximinus as Caesar for this series, and for the preceding series as well. Plus, it pushes this type to before the death of Galerius.

The only other explanation is that a mint worker in Alexandria mistakenly used an old obverse die of Maximinus as Caesar; given how haughty Maximinus was, and how eager he was to be recognized as Augustus instead of any lesser title, Maximinus presumably would have been none too pleased by the error!

104-590

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Maximinus II augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 311

obv.- IMP C GALER VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS; Genius holding patera and cornucopiae; crescent-K | A-P in fields, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 135b

24mm; 6.12g; nummus

This reverse type only struck in Alexandria 311-312 for a couple of officinae.

204-004

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Licinius I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 311-312

obv.- IMP C VAL LIC LICINIVS P F AVG; Laur bust right

rev.- BONO GENIO PII IMPERATORIS; Genius stg facing, head left, pouring liquor from patera, cornucopia in left; crescent-K in left field, B X in right field; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 144a (var)

24mm; 7.6g; nummus

Another unlisted variety of this type. This one is unlisted for this obverse legend; 144a is listed as S

204-106

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Alexandria civic issue

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 310-313

obv.- DEO SANCTO SARAPIDI; Head of Serapis right, wearing modius

rev.- DEO SANCTO NILO; Nilus reclining left, holding reed and cradling cornucopia in arm; Γ//ALE

Van Heesch, Last, 6b; Fail 226

15mm; 1.4g; quarter-nummus

Both sides of this coin show classic traditional iconography of Alexandria: on the obverse is Serapis, which was the most popular local deity in late Roman times; on the reverse is a personification of the Nile.

204-027

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 312

obv.- FL VALER CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left, holding head of Serapis and cornucopiae; *-N-A in fields, ALE • in ex

RIC VI Ale 161

21mm; 4.9g; nummus

The attribution as RIC 161 (listed as S) depends on whether there is the remnant of a * in the field between the heads of Genius and Serapis. If there is no *, then this is an unlisted variant of RIC 158. Thanks to Lech Stepniewski for pointing this out!

104-790

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Maximinus II augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 312-313

obv.- IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys across left shoulder, head of Serapis in right hand, cornucopiae in left ; * / N / palm in left field, B in right field; ALE in exergue

RIC VI Ale 160b; Fail 190

22mm; 5.6g; nummus

204-184

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 312-313

obv.- FL VALER CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left holding head of Serapis and cornucopiae, modius on head, */N/palm branch in field, A in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 161

21mm; 5.3g; nummus

Rated S in RIC

104-672

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Licinius I augustus

—struck by Maximinus II

Alexandria, 313

obv.- IMP C LIC LICINIVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO AVGVSTI; Genius standing left, holding head of Serapis and cornucopia; palm branch-N-* in left field, wreath-Γ in right field; ALE in ex

RIC VI Ale 162a; Fail 190q

22mm; 5.0g; nummus

from a small collection reputed to have been pieced out from Giovanni's Dattari's original collection of Alexandrian coinage. ex. Milivoj Paut

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The mint under Licinius

Control of the Alexandria mint passed to Licinius following his victory over Maximinus II in 313. In contrast to the other Maximinus mints, which immediately began striking Licinian coin types, the transition at Alexandria seems to have been murky. (It's doubtful that Licinius himself ever actually visited Alexandria.) The result is that for a couple of years after Maximinus' defeat, the mint reverted to older coin motifs. After that, Licinius' standard Jupiter reverse was struck.

204-185

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Licinius I

Alexandria, 313-314

obv.- FL VALER CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- GENIO POPVLI ROMANI; Genius standing left holding head of Serapis and cornucopiae, modius on head, N/palm branch in field, Γ-wreath in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VII Ale 2

21mm; 5.3g; nummus

Rated R4-R5 in RIC. This coin was struck shortly after Licinius defeated Maximinus in 313. Upon the defeat of Maximinus, all of the mints formerly under the control of Maximinus began striking "Iovi Conservatori" types like Licinius' other mints and ceased production of Maximinus types. For some reason, the Alexandria mint didn't follow this pattern and continued striking the "Genius holding head of Serapis" type from Maximinus. Exceptionally, the mint also reverted to the old "Genio Populi Romani" legend, in place of the "Genio Augusti" legend that had been used with this reverse type under Maximinus. Perhaps this was an attempt to project a message of tradition and continuity during this period of political change?

204-065

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Licinius I

Alexandria, 315

obv.- IMP C FL VAL CONSTANTINVS P F AVG; Laureate head right

rev.- IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG; Jupiter standing facing, head left, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, Victory on globe in right hand, scepter in left. Eagle holding wreath in left field; wreath-Z-N in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VII Ale 7

20mm; 3.0g; nummus

204-398

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Licinius I augustus

—struck by Licinius I

Alexandria, 315

obv.- IMP C VAL LICIN LICINIVS PF AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- IOVI CONSERVATORI AVGG; Jupiter standing left, chlamys across left shoulder, holding Victory on globe and sceptre, eagle with wreath left. Wreath - Γ - N in right field, ALE in ex

RIC VII Ale 8

20mm; 3.1g; nummus

204-276

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Licinius II caesar

—struck by Licinius I

Alexandria, 321-324

obv.- DN VAL LICIN LICINIVS NOB C; Helmeted bust left, holding spear and shield

rev.- IOVI CONSERVATORI; Jupiter stg l; r hand holds Victory standing on globe, left holds scepter; eagle stands on ground at l holding wreath in beak; captive on ground at right; X IIM in field; SMALA in ex

RIC VII Ale 30

19mm; 3.3g; nummus

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The mint under Constantine

Constantine assumed control of the Alexandria mint in 324 following his defeat of Licinius. The mint was swiftly integrated into the overall pattern of Constantine's other mints.

204-187

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Constantine I augustus

—struck by Constantine I

Alexandria, 325-326

obv.- CONSTANTINVS AVG; laureate bust right

rev.- PROVIDENTIAE AVGG; campgate (6 layers) with two turrets, star above; in ex.: SMALB

RIC VII Ale 34

19mm; 3.2g; nummus

During most of the Roman Imperial period, Alexandria vied with Antioch for the position of Second City of the empire, surpassed only by Rome in importance. The province of Egypt had a privileged position relative to Rome, by virtue of its great wealth and historical importance; the unique circumstances of its acquisition by Octavian from Antony and Cleopatra; and, most importantly, because of its role as a food supplier to Rome. Since the time of Octavian, Egypt had been administered as a closed economic zone, minting its own coins instead of relying on imperial coinage. As part of his coinage reform, Diocletian ended this practice; henceforth, Egypt would use the same coins and monetary system as the rest of the empire. The first such coins were struck in 294 on the same model as the coins struck at all the other mints; that is, they were struck jointly for all the tetrachs, using the Genio Populi Romani reverse to emphasize unity with the rest of the empire.

In 295, one of Diocletian's generals named Domitius Domitianus seized control of the city (and the mint), perhaps reflecting local dissatisfaction with the loss of Egypt's—and Alexandria's—special status. However, Domitianus continued to strike coins on Diocletian's model, and even struck coins in the names of other tetrarchs, including Diocletian himself. This was designed to create the impression that he was just one more member of the imperial college, rather than supplanting all of the other rulers. Nonetheless, a very displeased Diocletian promptly dispatched of Domitianus and reasserted control of the city, and coins in Domitianus' name ceased.