A few months ago a friend, upon hearing that I was collecting ancient coins, said he would like to have a coin issued by a pharaoh. Hmm. "I don't think there are any", I replied. I hadn't come across any in my whirlwind but voluminous searching, although I hadn't been looking for such a coin. Turns out there are some. Nektanebo II, the last native pharaoh of Egypt, issued coins in bronze, gold, and perhaps silver. Prior to that, Egypt was a barter economy although some coins were produced for international trading-- imitations of Athens, Attica tets, for instance. Nektanebo appears to be the first pharaoh to issue coins for local use. Maybe. PHARONIC KINGS OF EGYPT, Nektanebo II 360-343 BC AE 15 mm (4 mm thick), 4.4 gm Obv: Ram leaping left, head reverted. Rev: Scales of Ma'at; countermark with helmeted bust right. Ref: Weiser 1 Per a few auction house sales a half decade ago, it seems these bronzes were extremely rare. I wonder if a small horde was recently found because the prices have fallen and there are currently six specimens in retail e-stores and at least two more were auctioned off very recently. There is not universal agreement the issuer, purpose, and location of circulation of these coins. Sellers tout it as the "sole pharonic issue"-- I'm sure that boosts desirability-- but it may not be accurate. Hope it is though. Here is some information about that controversy from CNG, in the description of this coin (similar to mine) I wanted this coin for several reasons. First, well… a pharaoh's coin? That's just cool. Maybe even as cool as Anoob's Buddha coin Second, it depicts the Scales of Ma'at. Such a device was used in Jitterbug Perfume, a book by Tom Robbins, one of my favorite authors. In it, at a limbo-like way station, the newly dead have their hearts weighed against a feather. The heart must be light as a feather to move on. I was unaware until seeing this coin that the scene was taken directly from Egyptian mythology. Third, it is for my oft-mentioned themed collection, almost finished and soon to be unveiled. There was another one I wavered about in the Gorny & Mosch auction a few days ago. Decided to go for it but hadn't prebid and I missed it during live bidding due to being at work (dang work always getting in the way of fun). The scales were better on that example. So sorry to have missed it-- and it went for a decent price. Oh well, others will come along. Nektanebo II, of the 30th Egyptian Dynasty; 360-343 BC -Translated from Egyptian "Nakhthorheb (meryhathor)" or "Nekht-her-hebet" or "Nekht-harhebi" -Alternate spelling Nectanebo -Birth name: Nakht-hor-heb (mery-hathor) “Strong is His Lord Horus, Beloved of Hathor” -Throne name: Snedjem-ib-re Setep-en-inhur “Pleasing to the Heart of Re, Chosen of Onuris” Additional biographic information about Nektanebo II http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/nectanebo1.htm About Ma'at, the Scales of Ma'at, and the weighing of hearts: http://www.egyptartsite.com/judgement.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maat http://www.aldokkan.com/religion/hall_maat.htm
Thinking about the prices again, maybe they have fallen because of the doubt that it is indeed a pharonic issue.
Well there's something you don't see every day! The bust on the countermark wears a crested Beoetian helmet, which figured on many Seleucid designs. So maybe it's a Pharonic city issue re-monetized by the Seleucids? One way or another, a coin of considerable mystery and intrigue.
yeah, there it is! i didn't notice the little countermark on there on the reverse....+200 point awesome bonus. so i assume after this guy alexander the great rolled through egypt?
As John said, it is a mysterious and enigmatic little coin. But it's looking more and more like it is NOT Nektanebo, not Egyptian, and minted 3 centuries later. So much for the Scales of Ma'at, huh?
This does not really help determine if these were pharoahic, since this ruler was a usurper in modern day Syria, so of course later on they would have seleucid countermarks. Great point though. I saw the coin on cng. I would like to have a pharoanic as well, but the opinions against these keep stacking up. One of the main points being the ram was extremely popular in Antioch, and not as much on pharoanic designs. So why would he chose a ram? Either way, a very interesting coin still. I am with you and most everybody. I woukd have thought ancient egyptians would have struck coinage.
Bubbles. Bursting. I thought I had researched this coin adequately before bidding. Obviously not. I looked for information in wildwinds; comparable coins and prior sales in CNG archives, acsearch, and all the usual places. Didn't come across the issuer controversy though. Last night someone pointed me to this discussion which lays out a multitude of reasons why it is highly unlikely to be a pharonic issue. One respected person in that discussion also questions the authenticity of the rare Nektanebo gold staters, laying out a series of observations to support his statement. So... two of my three reasons for wanting this coin seem to be out the window, leaving only the third reason-- a very expensive third reason. Next time I consider purchasing a scarce coin I should dig deeper and ask questions on forums first.
No, of course the countermark doesn't say anything about the coin's origin, but I'm reminded of Pascal's Wager: the idea that you should believe in God just in case there is a God, etc. Maybe you should own one of these coins just in case it IS Pharonic...
Look at it this way. If any ancient coin has a chance to be a pharoanic coin, its this one. There still are arguments to be made about its origin, and its a scarce coin either way.
Well, that kinda sucks a bit, eh? Yah, it is never fun when a coin's authenticity gets challenged, or when a coin ends-up not being what the purchaser hoped it would be!! (I'm hoping that your new purchase turns out to be a Pharonic coin ... got my fingers crossed) TIF => regardless, that baby has a sweet ram and a cool reverse!! (I love the Scales of Ma'at story) ... oh, and it even has a super countermark!! ... they can't take that away from ya, right?!
Well actually... if it is a Syrian issue, I'm not sure the Ma'at thing holds. But thanks anyway for the pep talk. I do still like the coin but I probably wouldn't have spent as much on one had I realized all this before. As John and MedMan said-- still scarce, enigmatic, and the controversy in itself adds interest. So it's not a complete loss.
Well, since this debate has been going on for over a century, I doubt he will get closure soon. This is one of those, "not quite sure when and where it was made 100 percent. There are loads of these in ancient coins. But yeah, the reverse to me always has been the stronger argument for this being pharoanic. The obverse is pretty generic, the reverse is the more unusual design.
=> no problem, coin sister!! (I've got your back) "Just what made that little ol' ant think she could move a rubber-tree plant ... everyone knows an ant can't move a rubber-tree plant, but she's got high hopes ..."
