Ptolemaic Egypt Greek Coins

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Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt

After Alexander the Great's death, Egypt was administred by Ptolemy, one of his friends and generals. In 305 B.C. Ptolemy crowned himself king, establishing one of the most important and flourishing hellenistic monarchies. The culture was a complex mixture of egyptian and greek traditions, best represented by the famous city of Alexandria. As all other hellenistic kingdoms, Egypt suffered a slow decline in parallel with the mighty rising of Rome, and it's end witnessed the great story of Queen Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Marc Antony.

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy V, 205 - 180 B.C.

In a 1994 Article, Stephen Huston and C. Lorber noted the existance of this large horned variety in the CoinEx Hoard. They dated the coin and the entire hoard to the time of Ptolemy IV and Ptolemy V.

Richard Pincock attributes this type to the joint reign of Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII. He believes Huston and Lorber dated CoinEx too early, two eagles always symbolizes joint rule, and the weight of this issue fits a standard used only after 168 B.C. See http://www.ptolemaic.net.

GP63564. Bronze tetrobol, Weiser 134 (dates to 183/2 - 180 B.C.), Svoronos 1423 var (Ptolemy VI, normal horn), SNG Cop 304 (same), Noeske -, Hosking -, VF, weight 41.177 g, maximum diameter 36.2 mm, die axis 0^o, Alexandria mint, obverse diademed and horned head of Zeus Ammon, unusual variation with large horn protruding high at the top of the head; reverse PTOLEMIAOU BASILEWS, two eagles standing left, side-by-side, on thunderbolt, wings closed, no symbols or control letters; scarce; $450.00 (�346.50)

Phaselis, Lycia, 208 - 207 B.C., In the Name of Alexander the Great

Phaselis was under Ptolemaic control from 209 to 197 B.C., when Antiochus III took control. Antiochus III formally took possession of the Egyptian territories in Anatolia through the Peace of Lysimachia in 195. Despite the vicissitudes of the area, Phaselis seems to have retained significant autonomy and struck Alexander type tetradrachms with remarkable continuity from 218 - 185 B.C. The series ended shortly after the conclusion of the Apamea treaty, when Phaselis and the other cities of Lycia were handed over to the Kingdom of Rhodes. From 190 to 160 B.C. it remained under Rhodeian hegemony. After 160 B.C. Phaselis was absorbed into the Lycian confederacy under Roman rule. In the 1st century B.C., the city was taken over by the pirate Zekenites for a period until his defeat by the Romans.

SH59441. Silver tetradrachm, civic coinage struck under Ptolemaic hegemony, countermarked under Seleukid hegemony; Price 2850, Cohen DCA 315, M�ller Alexander -, VF/F, weight 16.117 g, maximum diameter 33.9 mm, die axis 0^o, Lycia, Phaselis mint, 208 - 207 B.C.; obverse Herakles' head right, clad in Nemean lion scalp headdress tied at neck; Seleukid countermark: anchor in an oval punch; reverse ALEXANDROU, Zeus enthroned left, right leg drawn back, eagle extended in right, long scepter vertical behind in left, IA (year 11) over F left, O beneath throne; $375.00 (�288.75)

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physcon), Second Reign, 145 - 116 B.C.

Ptolemy VIII and his older brother Ptolemy VI ruled jointly from 170 to 164 B.C. The brothers disagreed and Ptolemy VIII was forced to withdraw to Kyrenaica, which he ruled. After his brother's death, in 145 B.C., he claimed the throne and married Cleopatra II (his brother's widow and also his sister). Later he married Cleopatra III (his niece and stepdaughter) after which relations with Cleopatra II were strained. Ptolemy VIII was unpopular with the Alexandrians, who nicknamed him Physkon (pot belly). --- Greek Coins and Their Values by David R. Sear

SH63045. Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 1615, SNG Cop 608, SNG Milan -, Noeske -, BMC Ptolemies -, VF, weight 13.344 g, maximum diameter 23.9 mm, die axis 0^o, Cyprus, Kitium mint, 119 - 118 B.C.; obverse diademed bust right wearing aegis; reverse BASILEWS PTOLEMAIOU, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, LNB (year 52) left, KI right; scarce mint and coin; $350.00 (�269.50)

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Cleopatra III and Ptolemy X Alexander, 110 - 109 B.C. and 107 - 101 B.C.

Joint reign issue, with dates from each rulers reign. Cleopatra III was the Senior Ruler. Ptolemy dated his regnal years from the date of his appointment as governor of Cyprus in 113 B.C.

After Ptolemy VIII died in 116 B.C., Cleopatra III ruled with her mother Cleopatra II and son Ptolemy IX. In 110 B.C., she replaced Ptolemy IX as co-regent with her second son Ptolemy X. Ptolemy IX regained the throne in 109 but was again replaced in 107 B.C. In 101 B.C., Ptolemy X had his mother Cleopatra III murdered, and then ruled alone or with his niece and wife, Berenice III.

GS64150. Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 1727; SNG Cop 358; BMC Ptolemies p. 112, 18, gVF, weight 13.568 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 0^o, Paphos mint, 107 - 106 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Ptolemy right, wearing aegis; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, L IA (year 11 of Cleopatra III) over H (year 8 of Ptolemy X) left, PA right; $350.00 (�269.50)

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy IV Philopator, 221 - 204 B.C.
	Ptolemy IV's surname, Philopator, means father lover, ironic since according to some authorities he poisoned his father. Ptolemy IV is a major protagonist of the apocryphal 3 Maccabees, which describes events following the Battle of Raphia, in both Jerusalem and Alexandria. He was a cruel and evil monarch.

SH59538. Bronze drachm, Svoronos 992; Weiser 60 (Ptolemy III, 247 - 243 B.C.); SNG Cop 205; SNG Milan 216, Noeske 147, Hosking 36, BMC Ptolemies p. 74, 71 (Ptolemy V), aVF, weight 73.463 g, maximum diameter 41.2 mm, die axis 0^o, Alexandria mint, obverse horned head of Zeus Ammon right, wearing taenia; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, filleted cornucopia left, SE monogram between eagle's legs; a massive 73 gram Ptolemaic bronze!; $325.00 (�250.25)

Judaea (Yehudah), Ptolemaic Rule, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C.

Ptolemy II requested copies of Jewish texts for the Library at Alexandria. There they were translated and transcribed by seventy Jewish scholars hired for the purpose, creating the Septuagint, the oldest Greek version of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). Many of the oldest Biblical verses among the Dead Sea Scrolls, particularly those in Aramaic, correspond more closely with the Septuagint than with the Hebrew text.

JD37184. Silver quarter-ma'ah-obol, Meshorer TJC 32b; Mildenberg Yehud pl. 21, 24; Hendin 1087, VF, off center, weight 0.190 g, maximum diameter 6.73 mm, die axis 45^o, obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I right; reverse Aramaic inscription on left: YHDH (Yehudah), eagle standing half left on thunderbolt, wings open, head left; $320.00 (�246.40)

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy I Soter, 305 - 285 B.C.
	Minted in Alexandria, then the new capital of Egypt. After capturing Jerusalem, Ptolemy carried 100,000 prisoners to Alexandria to populate his new city. His liberality and grants of privileges eventually transformed these prisoners into the most faithful of his subjects.

SH59556. Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 247; Noeske 25 (288 - 287 B.C.); BMC Ptolemies p. 23, 84; SNG Copenhagen -; Hosking -; Malter -, F, banker's marks, weight 13.765 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 15^o, Alexandria mint, c. 294 - 285 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis, small D behind ear; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left, P over A in left field; $320.00 (�246.40)

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos, 80 - 58 B.C. and 55 - 51 B.C.
	The Greeks of Alexandria called themselves Macedonians, and they, like the proud people of Macedonia, believed they had the right to choose or depose their kings. The Alexandrians deposed the weak and unpopular Ptolemy XII in 58 B.C. He regained the throne with Roman assistance in 55 B.C. His daughter, the famous Cleopatra VII, was the last Ptolemaic ruler of Egypt.

SH60173. Silver tetradrachm, Svoronos 1840; SNG Cop 397; BMC Ptolemies p. 117, 37; Noeske 362; Hosking 124; SNG Milan 413; SGCV II 7948, VF, surface flaws, weight 14.553 g, maximum diameter 24.4 mm, die axis 180^o, Paphos mint, 52 - 51 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I (or XII?) right, wearing aegis; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left, transverse palm under right wing, LL (year 30) over crown of Isis left, PA right; $320.00 (�246.40)

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy Nios under Ptolemy II, 268 - 259 B.C.
	Svoronos knew only the single BMC example. Very rare and missing from most collections. Ptolemy Nios was the son of Lysimachos and Arsinoe II, as well as the step-son and co-ruler of Ptolemy II from 268 - 259 B.C. He was removed from his co-regency after he rebelled in 259 B.C., but remained as ruler of Telmessos in Lycia until after 240 B.C.

SH64051. Bronze dichalkon, Svoronos 792, pl. XXV, 22 (Ake-Ptolemais); BMC Ptolemies p. 65, 29 (Ptolemy IV, Ptolemais); Ashton Fethiye -; Weiser -; Noeske -; Hosking -, SNG Cop -, VF, weight 5.093 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, die axis 0^o, Lycia, Telmessos mint, c. 260 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head left, wings closed, tripod left, PTO right; very rare; $275.00 (�211.75)

Judaea (Yehudah), Ptolemaic Rule, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 - 246 B.C.

SH54977. Silver quarter-ma'ah-obol, Meshorer TJC 32; Mildenberg Yehud pl. 21, 24; Hendin 1087, gF, weight 0.192 g, maximum diameter 6.4 mm, die axis 180^o, Jerusalem? mint, obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I right; reverse eagle standing half left on thunderbolt, wings open, head left, Aramaic YHDH (Yehudah) on left; $270.00 (�207.90)

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REFERENCES

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Catalog current as of Friday, May 24, 2013.
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