Description

Roman Provincial Coinage.

Trajan, A.D. 98-117.

Alexandria, Egypt.

AE Drachm.

Obverse: Laureate and draped bust of Trajan right.

Reverse: Nilus reclining left on crocodile to left, holding cornucopia in right hand. Above in fiels IS (LIS) Nilus. （*Nei=los), the god of the river Nile in Egypt, is said to have been a son of Oceanus and Thetys, and father of Memphis and Chione.)

Bronze, 35mm, 22.13g.

Grade: VF, for issue, possibly tooled.

The red deposits are often found on ancient coins, from my research it appears to be"natural patina, probably cuprite (copper oxide)  mineral deposits."