I got a non Roman coin ( gasp!)

Where do I start with this guy.
He killed his mum, went to war against his brother, was killed in said war against his brother. And I thought the Constantinians and Theodosians were bad.
I now introduce to you all, Ptolmey X Alexander I Pharaoh of Egypt from 110 BCE. to 88 BCE( though he did not rule for all this time)

Here is the Ptolomies family tree, as you can see it is very straight!



Paphos Mint
Size: 26mm
Weight:13.19 grams
Obverse: Diademed head right, wearing aegis
Reverse: PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; L K (date) before; PA behind.
Struck in year 20 or 97 BCE.





This is one of four non Roman coins I own, and a darn good one at that!I probably shouldn't have bought it, but it was a good price. Heck I think I got it for more of a novelty value than for any collector interest. Just look at that nose/ head!

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

The family tree.

 

I like it very much. You'd have to be pretty single-minded to collect in only one field when it comes to ancients. There are just too many interesting coins out there. Grab whatever excites your imagination.

I believe the heads on these tetradrachms are described as being portraits of Ptolemy I Soter, the founder of the dynasty.

 

I plead guilty! I am pretty single minded on coins. ROMA INVICTA!
It's interesting that they would continue with to use his portrait for that length of time?

 

Sort of like our dead president coinage.

 

I never have, nor will understand that!

 

There's a famous bust of Ptolemy I at the Louvre, and he certainly did have a Greek nose, but the portraits on the coins seem very stylized to me. They have the look of Hellenistic macho-jock-head renditions of Hercules. That's just my opinion - a lot depends on individual engraving styles, but at least on certain coins, I feel like the portrait should be described as, "Ptolemy as Hercules."

 

Anecdote: Ptolemy I was an avid supporter of Euclid's work, but found the Elements too difficult to understand. Countless high-school students have been agreeing with his opinion on geometry ever since.

 

.

 

I was told that the portraits just got progressively worse as time went on. What's the deal with that?
Oh, feel free to post all your Ptolemy coins.

 

From that nose one might think Bob Hope was a descendent.

 

Congrats on your PT-X, Mag-Max => cool coin (kinda doughy features on the portrait)

I have a PT-X example as well ...

Ptolemy X AE 24
116-80 BC
Diameter: 23.9 mm
Weight: 8.8 grams
Obverse: Diademed and horned head of Ammon Zeus
Reverse: two eagles on thunderbolt

 

Love it. Very nice. I primarily am collecting RRs, but occasionally I make forays into the Greek and Roman Imperial arenas

 

I think you may be on to something Ed!

 

Many thanks Bing.
@steve- What is the weight of that baby!

 

I recently posted my two modest Ptolemies, but here they are again----Bookends of a sort since they are Ptolemy VI (and VIII) Philometor; and Ptolemy IV Philopator--- Bunch of wusses who LOVED their mommies and daddies



Two Eagles on Reverse----Ptolemy VI and VIII----Being Pharoah/King once wasn't enough??

Sole Eagle on Reverse---Ptolemy IV

 

Very cool!
As much as I like seeing big bronze; Do you guys have any tetras to show off?

 

Very nice!!

 

=> hi, Mag-Max ... I updated my coin's stuff (so, please go up and your question has been answered)

Cheers

 

Really nice one, once you get into collecting you start to broaden and collect more than just one field.

Also, How much did you pay, just kind of curious.