Some Notes on Trajan's Coinage in Alexandria

This article brings together a series of structural and typological observations on the Egyptian coinage of Trajan (AD 98–117). Close links between Alexandria in Egypt, the second most prolific mint in the Roman Empire, and Rome, the centre of power, are apparent in the coinage. During Trajan’s rule, there was a significant increase in the production of bronze drachmas by the mint of Alexandria. At around the same time, the sestertius became the dominant bronze coin in the imperial monetary system. Under Trajan, the mint of Alexandria not only issued coins for the local provincial system: there is evidence of its involvement in the production of certain types of tetradrachms circulating in Syria as well. Sestertii from Trajan’s fifth consulate depicting the emperor on horseback, attacking an enemy, were copied in Egypt soon after the type had been created in the capital. Furthermore, some Alexandrian coin types apparently refer to the city of Rome itself. A drachma of Trajan on which the emperor is depicted in triumph shows the image of a column in the background, and it is noteworthy that this coin type was issued shortly after the dedication of Trajan’s Column in Rome. Furthermore, Trajan’s Baths – never depicted on imperial coins – seem to appear on coins issued by the mint of Alexandria during the emperor’s reign.