EGYPT. Alexandria. Antoninus Pius (138-161). Ae Drachm. Dated RY 14 (AD 150/1).

Obv: ΑΥΤ Κ Τ ΑΙΛ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤωΝΙΝΟϹ ϹЄΒ ЄΥϹ.
Laureate and draped bust right.
Rev: L ΙΔ (date).
Triptolemus, wearing elephant's-head cap, holding seeds in chlamys, driving biga drawn by winged serpents right.

RPC IV.4 1287; Dattari (Savio) 2907; Emmett 1683.14.

Triptolemus was the son of Celeus and Metanira. Demeter, who had been their guest in the palace of Eleusis as an old nurse and had tried in vain to give immortality to his brother Demophon, assigned Triptolemus the task of spreading the cultivation of wheat, especially the operations of ploughing and sowing. For this purpose she gave him a chariot drawn by two winged dragons. In honour of the goddess he instituted festivals in Athens called Thesmophoriae.

Condition: Near very fine.

Weight: 20.61 g.
Diameter: 33 mm.