Ptolemy 3 new coin for views

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Mammothtooth, Jan 27, 2026 at 12:42 AM.

  1. Mammothtooth

    Mammothtooth Stand up Philosopher, Vodka Taster

    Large 40 mm and 59 grams yet called a drachm ? IMG_1028.jpeg
     
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  3. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    Remember drachms were supposed to be silver sir. Egypt was short of silver but had copper, so made massive copper coins instead of small silver ones. Same with the sestertius, which was a small silver coin in the republic and was reinvented as a large brass one instead.
     
  4. cmezner

    cmezner do ut des Supporter

    The Ptolemaic dynasty also known as the Lagids after Lagus, Ptolemy’s I father, who ruled from 305 to 30 BC, had a complete monetary system not only in gold and silver, but also especially in bronze. In this system it is possible that the heaviest coin weighting more than 90 g corresponded to one drachm.
     
  5. medoraman

    medoraman Supporter! Supporter

    I thought it was the octobol sir. The drachms of Ptolemy III were usually 70ish grams, and octobols 90+.

    The Ptolemies as far as I have read had a gold mine the pharoahs used and copper mines, but silver was scarcer in their country, which is why they came up with the idea of very heavy copper as replacements for smaller silver coins.
     
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  6. GinoLR

    GinoLR Well-Known Member

    Nice coin, but could you post a focused pic? I think this coin deserves it
     
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  7. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    I only have an AV Oktodrachm Ptolemy III

    AV octodrachm ND
    Alexandria Mint
    26mm. 27.83g. 12h
    Ptolemy III Euergetes 246-222BC

    This one is common, they struck lots of these. Mine is close to EF. 1c52e8e10fced457e4bc183e675df5f7.jpg
     
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  8. philologus_1

    philologus_1 Supporter! Supporter

    My hobby budget allowed the purchase of this bronze hemiobol portrait of Mr. Ptolemy III in a CNG auction back in 2015.

    upload_2026-1-28_9-14-30.png
    PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy III Euergetes. 246-222 BC.
    Æ Hemiobol. Uncertain mint in the Peloponnesos. Struck 243 - 222 BC.
    Obv.: Laureate bust of Pt. III, right, wearing aegis
    Rev.: Eagle, closed wings, on thunderbolt; cornucopia; ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΣ
    Diam.: 19 mm. Weight: 5.1 g. Axis: 12h
    Attrib.: Sv. 1000. CPE B407. Weiser 69. SNG Cop. 193-5. Noeske 126-9.
    Notes: VF. Brown surfaces with touches of green. Some faint cleaning marks.
    Probably struck for use in Greece/Peloponnesos (see EHC pp. 107-8).
    From the collection of Alexandre Carathéodory Pasha (1833-1906).
     
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  9. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Ptolemy II.png
    PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHOS
    AR Tetradrachm
    OBVERSE: Diademed head of Ptolemy II right, wearing aegis around neck
    REVERSE: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ [ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ], eagle standing left on thunderbolt, to left, club surmounted by Tyre monogram
    Tyre 285-260 BC
    25 mm., 14.14 grams
    Svoronos 644; SNG Copenhagen 482-3
    ex. JAZ Numismatics
     
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