Diobol (80 Drachmai) — Augustus — Alexandria

Obverse: Bare head of Augustus right

Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, cornucopia to left, Π (mark of value) to right

Mass: 17.59 g

Diameter: 26.1 mm

The reverse depicts the eagle of Zeus standing upon a thunderbolt, a powerful symbol of divine authority and victory in the Hellenistic and Roman worlds. The accompanying cornucopia represents abundance and prosperity, while the Π mark of value identifies the denomination within the Alexandrian bronze currency system. The combination of traditional Ptolemaic-style imagery with the portrait of Augustus reflects the continuation of Egyptian monetary traditions under Roman rule.

Augustus was the first Roman emperor, ruling from 27 BC to AD 14 after defeating Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII at the Battle of Actium and transforming the Roman Republic into the imperial system. Alexandrian bronze coinage was produced specifically for circulation in Roman Egypt and followed local denominational practices rather than the standard Roman imperial bronze system. The large bronze denominations of Alexandria, including issues valued in drachmai and obols, formed the everyday currency of the province and continued to use Greek artistic traditions and symbols long after Egypt became part of the Roman Empire.