Egypt. Alexandria. Hadrian, 117-138. Obol. (Bronze, 19.09 mm, 5.01 g). Dated RY 21 = AD 136/7. AYT KAIC TPA AΔPIANOC CЄB (retrograde) Laureate head of Hadrian left. Rev. Kalathos between two torches; LKA (date) at the exergue. BMC 905. Kellner 6.20. Emmett 1166 var. RPC III 6245.3. (this specimen). Extremely Fine. Ex Malter, Auction II, Beverly Hills (California), 23-24.02.1978, lot 337. Another obol issued at the end of the reign of Hadrian that has two rare variations: first, the head of the emperor turned to the left instead of regularly to the right, then the legend on the obverse is retrograde in spite of the normal, from left to right. The portrait of the sovereign is physiognomic and qualitatively valuable. The reverse is auspicious, of good omen for the agricultural prosperity of Egypt and the modius or kalathos in fact connects to the main deities that protect it: Serapis, Demeter, Euthenia and Tyche. The authors of RPC remark as follows: “These coins are somewhat strange; the bust faces to left, the inscription is retrograde, but also poorly formed. This must suggest that they are (very good) imitations, but the style is very good.”