A newly observed Arsinoe bronze (
Ptolemy II,
Svoronos 386) with a
countermark of 'advancing Nike' in a somewhat oval
incuse punch, rotated about 110 degrees (clockwise) with respect to the
obverse portrait. Sv 386 are fairly
rare and this
countermarked specimen may be unique. This specimen is about 17mm and 3.4 grams with 12h
die axis, all within the usual ranges for this
type. The origin and purpose of the 'Nike'
countermark are unknown.
Svoronos 386 is
part of a small group of coins that have an open-wing
eagle reverse with a combination of three
symbols in the
field to the left of the
eagle, typically a LAMDA IOTA or DELTA IOTA (sometimes too worn or small to distinguish one from the other) above a 'star' with a PI-A
monogram below. On this coin the
symbols (especially the PI-Y
monogram) to the left of the
eagle on the
reverse are a
bit the harder to make out as they are somewhat flattened by the punch directly opposed to that location on the
obverse. Photos here show the
obverse and an enlarged re-oriented image of the
countermark as well as the
reverse. These illustrations have been included in a fresh update of the ptolemybronze.com 'coin series' page with several other
additions of
types not previously illustrated there including
Alexandria Series 9 and the 'Jugate Portrait' bronze of
Kyrenaica.
PtolemAE
