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Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt

After Alexander the Great's death, Egypt was administered 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. Ptolemaic rule lasted for 275 years, until 30 B.C. The culture was a complex mixture of Egyptian and Greek traditions, best represented by the famous city of Alexandria. All the male rulers of the dynasty took the name Ptolemy, while queens regnant were all called Cleopatra, Arsinoe or Berenice. The most famous member of the line was the last queen, Cleopatra VII, known for her role in the Roman political battles between Julius Caesar and Pompey, and later between Octavian and Mark Antony. Her suicide at the conquest by Rome marked the end of Ptolemaic rule in Egypt.

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, 150 - 116 B.C.

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |VIII| |Euergetes,| |150| |-| |116| |B.C.||AE| |15|NEW
Alexander the Great received tribute from the cities of Kyrenaica after he took Egypt. Kyrenaica was annexed by Ptolemy I Soter. It briefly gained independence under Magas of Cyrene, stepson of Ptolemy I, but was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic empire after his death. It was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion, who, dying without heirs in 96 B.C., bequeathed it to the Roman Republic.
GP114705. Bronze AE 15, Svoronos 1655, Noeske 291, SNG Cop 658, SNG Milan 402, Malter 247, Weiser -, VF, dark patina, highlighting red earthen deposits, obv. edge beveled, edge cracks, weight 2.418 g, maximum diameter 14.4 mm, die axis 0o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, 150 - 116 B.C.; obverse diademed and horned head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse EYEPΓETOY ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left, wings open, grasping fulmen (thunderbolt) in talons; $60.00 (€56.40)
 


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, 150 - 116 B.C.

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |VIII| |Euergetes,| |150| |-| |116| |B.C.||AE| |15|NEW
Alexander the Great received tribute from the cities of Kyrenaica after he took Egypt. Kyrenaica was annexed by Ptolemy I Soter. It briefly gained independence under Magas of Cyrene, stepson of Ptolemy I, but was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic empire after his death. It was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion, who, dying without heirs in 96 B.C., bequeathed it to the Roman Republic.
GP114706. Bronze AE 15, Svoronos 1655, Noeske 291, SNG Cop 658, SNG Milan 402, Malter 247, Weiser -, VF, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, obv edge beveled, weight 2.539 g, maximum diameter 14.9 mm, die axis 0o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, 150 - 116 B.C.; obverse diademed and horned head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse EYEPΓETOY ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left, wings open, grasping fulmen (thunderbolt) in talons; $60.00 (€56.40)
 


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, 150 - 116 B.C.

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |VIII| |Euergetes,| |150| |-| |116| |B.C.||AE| |15|NEW
Alexander the Great received tribute from the cities of Kyrenaica after he took Egypt. Kyrenaica was annexed by Ptolemy I Soter. It briefly gained independence under Magas of Cyrene, stepson of Ptolemy I, but was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic empire after his death. It was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion, who, dying without heirs in 96 B.C., bequeathed it to the Roman Republic.
GP114707. Bronze AE 15, Svoronos 1655, Noeske 291, SNG Cop 658, SNG Milan 402, Malter 247, Weiser -, VF, green patina, highlighting earthen deposits, rev. off center, weight 2.233 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 315o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, 150 - 116 B.C.; obverse diademed and horned head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse EYEPΓETOY ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left, wings open, grasping fulmen (thunderbolt) in talons; $70.00 (€65.80)
 


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, 150 - 116 B.C.

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |VIII| |Euergetes,| |150| |-| |116| |B.C.||AE| |15|NEW
Alexander the Great received tribute from the cities of Kyrenaica after he took Egypt. Kyrenaica was annexed by Ptolemy I Soter. It briefly gained independence under Magas of Cyrene, stepson of Ptolemy I, but was reabsorbed into the Ptolemaic empire after his death. It was separated from the main kingdom by Ptolemy VIII and given to his son Ptolemy Apion, who, dying without heirs in 96 B.C., bequeathed it to the Roman Republic.
GP114710. Bronze AE 15, Svoronos 1655, Noeske 291, SNG Cop 658, SNG Milan 402, Malter 247, Weiser -, gVF, tight flan, highlighting earthen deposits, rev. edge beveled, edge a bit ragged, weight 1.740 g, maximum diameter 13.4 mm, die axis 0o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, 150 - 116 B.C.; obverse diademed and horned head of Zeus Ammon right; reverse EYEPΓETOY ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left, wings open, grasping fulmen (thunderbolt) in talons; $70.00 (€65.80)
 


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Berenike II, 244 - 221 B.C., Wife of Ptolemy III

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Berenike| |II,| |244| |-| |221| |B.C.,| |Wife| |of| |Ptolemy| |III||tritartemorion|NEW
This type has traditionally been attributed to Ake Ptolemais, Galilee (Acre, Israel). R. Poole attributed them to Cyprus and they have been found there, but C. Lorber notes they were found in numbers in the Ras Ibn Hani Excavations, on the North Syrian coast. This site had easy access to Cyrus. She also finds Seleukid influence in the skilled epigraphy and reverse legend arrangement. She thus attributes the type to an uncertain North Syrian mint.
GP114718. Bronze tritartemorion, Lorber CPE B460; Svoronos 1055; SNG Cop 460; Weiser 84; Noeske -, aVF, porous/rough, legends weak, light earthen deposits, obv. edge beveled, weight 6.387 g, maximum diameter 21.0 mm, die axis 0o, uncertain North Syrian mint, 244 - 221 B.C.; obverse BEPENIKHΣ downward on left, BAΣIΛIΣΣHΣ (clockwise), diademed and draped bust of Queen Berenike II right; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (clockwise), eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Kyrene, Kyrenaica, North Africa, c. 120 - 96 B.C.

|Kyrenaica|, |Kyrene,| |Kyrenaica,| |North| |Africa,| |c.| |120| |-| |96| |B.C.||obol|
From the time of the late reign of Ptolemy VIII to that of Ptolemy Apion. Ptolemy Apion was a son of Ptolemy VIII, perhaps by an Egyptian concubine. This makes him a half-brother of Ptolemy IX and X. He died without an heir and left his kingdom to Rome.
GP114617. Bronze obol, cf. Svoronos Pl. XLVI, 23 - 25 (Ptolemy V), SNG Cop 438 (Ptolemy IV - VIII, c. 221 - 140 B.C.), VF, flan crack, edge a little ragged with splits, obv. edge beveled, central depressions, surfaces a little rough, weight 2.307 g, maximum diameter 16.0 mm, die axis 315o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, c. 120 - 96 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Ptolemy Soter right with aegis; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, head of Isis right, hair in formal curls down neck, cornucopia below chin; $90.00 (€84.60)
 


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 204 - 180 B.C.

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |V| |Epiphanes,| |204| |-| |180| |B.C.||obol|
The name of Ptolemy V Epiphanes appears on the Rosetta stone. He married Cleopatra I, the daughter of the Seleukid king Antiochos III, and was the father of Ptolemy VI, VII, and Cleopatra II. Ptolemy V lost Judea, Philistia, and Phoenicia to Antiochos III after the battle of Panium in 198 B.C. (Dan 11:13-16).
GP113991. Bronze obol, Svoronos 1494 (Ptolemy VIII), SNG Cop 339 ff. (Ptolemy VIII), Weiser 126, BMC Ptolemies p. 69, 9 - 10 (Paphos?), Noeske -, Hosking -, aVF, rough green-brown patina, some encrustation on reverse, central depressions, obv. edge beveled, sprue remnant, weight 11.570 g, maximum diameter 26.0 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, 200 - 197 B.C.; obverse bearded head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean lion scalp headdress; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, head left, wings closed; ex CNG e-sale 534 (15 Mar 2023), lot 225; scarce; $130.00 (€122.20)
 


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VI Philometor, 180 - 145 B.C.

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |VI| |Philometor,| |180| |-| |145| |B.C.||tetrobol|
In 180 B.C., at about six years old, Ptolemy VI became king and ruled jointly with his mother, Cleopatra I, until her death in 176 B.C. From 170 to 164 B.C., Egypt was ruled by Ptolemy, his sister-queen and his younger brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon. In 170 B.C., the Seleukid King Antiochus IV invaded and was even crowned king in 168, but abandoned his claim on the orders from Rome. In 164 Ptolemy VI was driven out by his brother. He went to Rome and received support from Cato, and was restored the following year. In 152 B.C., he briefly ruled jointly with his son, Ptolemy Eupator, but his son probably died that same year. In 145 B.C. he died of battle wounds received against Alexander Balas of Syria. Ptolemy VI ruled uneasily, cruelly suppressing frequent rebellions.
GP113999. Bronze tetrobol, Svoronos 1385 (Cyprus); BMC Alexandria p. 68, 7 (Paphos); SNG Cop 288; Weiser 148 (Ptolemy V), F, brown surfaces, some minor spots of corrosion (stable), a little off center, light scratch on reverse, obv. edge beveled, central depressions, weight 9.928 g, maximum diameter 23.4 mm, die axis 0o, Alexandria mint, Faucher & Lorber series 7B, c. 168-163 BC.; obverse bearded head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean lion scalp headdress; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head left, (ΠA monogram) left; Ex CNG e-auction 534 (15 Mar 2023), lot 226; scarce; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Kyrene, North Africa, Ptolemy Apion, c. 101 - 96 B.C.

|Kyrenaica|, |Kyrene,| |North| |Africa,| |Ptolemy| |Apion,| |c.| |101| |-| |96| |B.C.||quarter-obol|
Ptolemy Apion was a son of Ptolemy VIII, perhaps by an Egyptian concubine. This makes him a half-brother of Ptolemy IX and X. Ptolemy Apion died in 96 B.C., without an heir, leaving his kingdom to the Roman Republic.

According to Butrey, Apion's coinage was nothing but very small change, with a peak about 1.3 grams. Buttrey notes, "the Greek coinage of Cyrenaica, of glorious tradition, ended in the lamentable small bronzes of Apion."
GB113830. Bronze quarter-obol, Buttrey Cyrene 542 - 603, aVF, dark patina, rev rough, edge ragged, obv. edge beveled, weight 1.503 g, maximum diameter 12.2 mm, die axis 0o, Kyrene (near Shahhat, Libya) mint, c. 101 - 96 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Ptolemy I as Zeus right, wearing aegis; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, head of Libya or Isis right; rare; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy VI Philometor, 180 - 145 B.C.

|Ptolemaic| |Egypt|, |Ptolemaic| |Kingdom| |of| |Egypt,| |Ptolemy| |VI| |Philometor,| |180| |-| |145| |B.C.||drachm|
The letters EYΛ are the first letters of Eulaios, regent with Lenaios during part of the minority of Ptolemy VI.
GB113833. Bronze drachm, Svoronos 1396; Weiser 151; SNG Cop 293; BMC Ptolemies p. 80, 16; Hosking 88; Hazzard C1108; SNG Milan -; Noeske -, aVF, well centered, crackled patina, scratches, weight 20.728 g, maximum diameter 28.3 mm, die axis 0o, Cypriot mint, c. 174 - 171 B.C.; obverse diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right; reverse ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing on thunderbolt left, transverse scepter under wing; lotus left, ΕYΛ between legs; $110.00 (€103.40)
 




  






REFERENCES

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