Egypt, Alexandria. Maximinus I, 235-238. Tetradrachm (Billon, 23.00 mm, 12.55 g). Dated RY 2 = AD 235/6. AYTO MAΞIMINOC ЄVC CЄB Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust to right. Rev. Draped bust of Nilus to right, wearing lotus wreath on head; LB (date) in left field and cornucopia in right field. RPC VI Online 10676 (temporary). K&G 65.18. Dattari-Savio 4586. Emmett 3292. BMC 1800. Geissen 2558. Rare. High silver content. Very Fine. From the New Orleans Collection. Purchased from Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, March 2008, lot 2764. Ex CNG, Auction 111, 29.05.2019, lot 593 and Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 95, 13.04.2022, lot 718. This tetradrachm shows a starkly realistic portrait of the brutal emperor Maximinus I, of obscure Thracian origins, who devoted his entire life to military careers and campaigns, marked by ferocity and constant conflict with the Roman Senate. He was the first soldier-emperor of the third century and never set foot in Rome. Equally grim on the reverse is the figure of Nilus, who is usually depicted as a peaceful and empathetic river deity.