I’m sorry this is such a poor image. The coin’s not much better in the hand!
Ptolemy AE18
Obv: Head of Aphrodite right, wearing tainia?
Rev: Open-wing eagle left [Π]T[OΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ] [BAΣI]ΛE[ΩΣ] However, I’m not sure of the legend.
I can’t place this coin. I’m focusing on the obverse trying to match this with weight.
Help please!
6.4gr, 16.9-18.3mm and axis 12hr
Thanks
Looks to be a specimen of
Svoronos 1237, 2nd C. BC,
Alexandria mint. The
obverse would depict Demeter with corn-wreath headdress (often described as an image of
Isis, but seems
if so then
Isis is missing her 'Isiac' crown and oddly has Demeter's corn-wreath headdress).
Similar in general appearance to
Svoronos 1233, 1234, and 1235 but smaller and, as it is not known from
hoards, hard to associate with other
types as one
denomination in a 'Series'.
For the 2nd-1st C.
Ptolemaic bronzes issued at
Alexandria the value scheme is completely different from the previous century, with oddly high decimal values and even small coins like this maybe valued about 25 or 30 'drachma'. There's a hint how that system worked from the
Cleopatra bronzes marked with values of Pi and M (80 and 40 'drachma') at about
17 and 8.5 grams (marked, but nevertheless with
weight ~ value). A halfway decent description of this and the related
weight standards is now on the updated coin series/photos page of
ptolemybronze.com
PtolemAE
