Rosetta Stone © Hans Hillewaert used under CC BY-SA 4.0 I have quite a few Roman provincial Egyptian coins, but have not ventured much into the Ptolemaic era. This first coin is one that I find compelling for the portrait of Isis also for its link to Ptolemy V and the Rosetta Stone (or Memphis decree) affirming the royal cult of the king. The Rosetta stone a personal favorite stop in the British Museum along with the Babylonian Map of the World. Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 204-180 BC temp. Ptolemy VI–VIII, circa 180-116 BC, AE (25mm, 14.51 g, 12h), Alexandria mint, Series 6e [See note from @Severus Alexander, below - series probably 7c based on weight and Wolf site notes - which would also mean Ptolemy VI–VIII rather than V] Obv: Head of Isis right, wearing wreath of grain ears, and her hair in long curls Rev: ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle with open wings standing left on thunderbolt Ref: Svoronos 1235; Faucher & Lorber Series 6e or 7c; SNG Copenhagen 247–8 Note: Some useful information at Ptolemaic.net I find myself fairly lost trying to differentiate rulers. As highlighted by Severus Alexander, I didn't have the attribution right on this Isis Coin, and I think I am right on the next one, Ptolemy II, but not knowing these coins well, I have many questions: Q1 - Denomination: Faucher and Lorber were helpful, but I still don't know whether I should call this Isis coin a diobol, Denomination B or something else...is there a system of naming or a summary of the denominations and how they changed over the years? Here's a second coin from Ptolemaic Egypt: Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285-246BC, AE Diobol (31.7mm, 20.79g, 12h), Alexandria mint, post-reform, series 3, Struck circa 261/0-246 BC Obv: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right Rev: ΠΤΟΛEΜΑΙOΥ BAΣΙΛEΩΣ, eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; ∆ between legs Ref: Svoronos 438; Weiser –; SNG Copenhagen 156; Noeske –; PCO B218; CoinProject 2-050 This bust is considered to be Ptolemy II, the son of Ptolemy I who was the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty after the death of Alexander the Great. Ptolemy II struggled with the Seleucid Empire and promoted the Library of Alexandria. He also established the cult of Ptolemeic kings when he deified his mother and father. Naples National Archaeological Museum, used under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons Q2 - Zeus: I see various references to Zeus and Zeus Ammon for this coin - I think my coin doesn't show an obvious horn - Zeus? Ammon? are they the same or is there an easy way to see the difference? Q3 - Condition/Rarity: I only find 4 of the Zeus Ptolemy II properly attributed in ACSearch which suggests to me that this might be a difficult coin to find, I find 58 of the Isis Ptolemy V. I also expect that this are often misattributed - is there any good way to know what is common vs. rare for these coins? Were diobols at this time a well used coin - none of the four Ptolemy II that I did find are in much better condition than this one? Coins, comments, references, and corrections are always appreciated. Post your coins of Ptolemaic Egypt or anything else that you find interesting or entertaining.[/S][/S]
Here's a link to Daniel Wolf Ptolemy coin project: http://ptolemybronze.com/ptolemy_series.html Ptolemy II (click on the coin to read the description)
WoWiE!!! That Isis is a beauty For Q2, my understanding is that the horns make him Ammon. But like you I see most Zeus on polemic coins listed as Ammon. I've been slacking on doing a write up on this hidden in plain site counter marked, borderline Macedonian shieldish coin (hey, ptolemy II was born in Macedonia. So a shield on his coin should kinda count despite the Olbian oval shadow). Though, not as cherry as @Andres2 beauty above. One I'd been hunting for a while now. Do you see the counter mark? Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285-246 BC). AE Diobol, Alexandria mint. Head of Zeus-Ammon right. / ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, Σ / shield in left field, c/m: trident. Lorber B166. AE. 14.15 g. 22.00 mm. Rare with trident countermark. About VF/Good F. Purchased from Artemide Kunstauktionen Jan 2021
Thanks, @Andres2, the Daniel Wolf page looks like a great visual reference - will explore more. That is definitely hidden in plain sight - until I read your comment I couldn't see it.
Very attractive specimen, @Sulla80! My Ptolemaics are not exactly FDC: Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 205 BC-180 BC AE hemidrachm, 18.84 g; 28.4 mm Alexandria, ca. 197-183/2 BC Obv: Corn-wreathed head of Isis, right Rev: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle standing on winged thunderbolt, left Refs: Svoronos 1235; Sear Greek 7880; BMCG 6.94,72; SNG VIII (Hart) 1175; Forrer 80. Cleopatra VII, Queen of Egypt, 51-30 BCE AE 40 drachmai; 21.0 mm; 7.32 gm Alexandria mint, 51-30 BCE Obv: Diademed head of Cleopatra, hair in bun at back of head, facing right Rev: [ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ], eagle standing left on thunderbolt, double cornucopiae in field to left, M (for 40) to right Refs: Sear Greek 7956; Svoronos 1872; BMC 6; Vagi 212; Forrer 110.
That Isis coin is a real beauty - lovely photograph too! Here's mine with a ΠΑ monogram (15.70g), which I've attributed to series 7b under (probably) Ptolemy VI's sole reign, 163-145 BCE: Actually, I don't think your attribution is correct, though I hasten to add that I'm no expert on these! However if I'm interpreting the info on the Wolf site correctly, the weight of yours puts it quite firmly in series 7c (Sv1235), after my 7b and so roughly during the reign of Ptolemy VIII (c. 145-116). He notes that 6e probably isn't a genuine series, and even if it is, lighter coins like yours are best put in 7c. I think the most relevant chart is this one from the Faucher & Lorber paper you cited: There was a massive monetary reform c. 205 in which all the bronze was demonetized and reissued with new denominations. This chart represents, in their opinion, the most likely hypothesis for how the new system of reckoning in terms of "new drachms" fits with the old system, where 60 new drachms = 1 old drachm. That would make both of our coins 60 new drachms = 1 old drachm. Our coins, at around 15g, are half the weight of the series 6a version of this denomination due to a further reform instituted in series 7. Interestingly our coins should both have a high admixture of lead in them (mine could be as high as 30% lead!) which made the reissued bronze go even further. The weight on @Roman Collector's Isis coin makes it harder to attribute. It might be a 6e... if the series exists. Or it might also be a 7c. @Roman Collector's Cleopatra VII coin has the denomination in terms of "new drachmae" marked directly on the coin, M for 40 drachmae, just visible in the right field. My coin from the same series is marked Π for 80 drachmae, also in the right field: RC and I have a competition going for the ugliest Cleo VII coin.
That is indeed a lovely portrait of Isis. Here's my not-so-lovely Svoronos 1234, a poster coin for partially-weakly struck: Ptolemy V Epiphanes Æ 28 (203-180 B.C.) Alexandria mint Head of Cleopatra I as Isis, right, wearing a wreath of grain / [ΠΤΟΛΕΜ]ΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, eagle standing on winged thunderbolt, left (no monogram). Svoronos 1234; SNG 248. (18.25 grams / 28 mm )
Sulla80, I know very little about Egyptian coins & my better coins have been sold over the last10 tears. From what I've read Zeus Ammon should always sport a rams horn on his head, like the coin below that I sold at auction about 5 years ago. Egypt-Alexandria, Ptolemy III, 246-222 BC, AE Hemidrachm: 34 mm, 35.54 gm. The Zeus on the coin below has no rams horn, he is fully Romanized.
Thanks, @Severus Alexander - reading Wolf, I am not surprised at my difficulties distinguishing. "even experts cannot tell them apart when they are mixed together in groups. If experts cannot distinguish them and if their sizes and weight ranges overlap, then it isn't really clear how to distinguish between them except for those at the extremes of the size and weight ranges." -Wolf, Ptolemaic Bronze Denomination I will spend a bit more time on the Wolf site to convince myself - but it does sound like 7C & 1235 is a better label...I have another of these coins with a much different color metal and a portrait that looks quite different to me as well. Looking over the full list of weights from Svoronos listed coins, there is quite a range, but I still think it falls in the lower end. Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, temp. Ptolemy VI–VIII, circa 180-116 BC, AE (25-28mm, 15.82vg, 11h), Alexandria mint, Series 7c Obv: Head of Isis right, wearing wreath of grain ears, and her hair in long curls Rev: ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle with open wings standing left on thunderbolt Ref: Svoronos 1235; Faucher & Lorber Series7c; SNG Copenhagen 247–8 Thanks, Al, at least on your nice example I can see a horn more clearly than I can on my example. I am wondering if there is a mix on coins of the Ptolemies or all Zeus Ammon...
Ptolemaic coinage is definitely very confusing, they all look the same to me. This one I attributed, based on the Daniel Wolf's project, as Ptolemy III Euergetes, Æ Pentobolon. Can't remember were I got the denomination Pentobolon from, the project calls it Tetrobol and there is no denomination Pentobolon in the project. This ones with the monogram E (or EP)are also according to the project, very plentiful, and among the most common types of Ptolemaic bronzes. So nothing special here except my confusion about the attribution and denomination, please feel free to question my attribution, it is most welcome: 37 x 38 mm, 45.52 g Alexandria, 246 - 230 BC Svoronos 974; Sear 7843; SNG Copenhagen 224 or229; Lorber CPE B371 or 366 Ob.: Head of Zeus-Ammon right, wearing ram’s horn and taenia. Rev.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing half left on thunderbolt, wings closed, head r.; cornucopiae decorated with 3 taenia (an ornament for the head attribute of heroes) on left wing; EP (or E) monogram between legs. Border of dots. and this should be a Ptolemy I AE Diobol (can't see a horn on the obverse) 27 x 28 mm, 13.891 g Alexandria, ca. 304 - 283 BC Svoronos 269 - 303; Ob.: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right Rev.: ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, Ptolemaic Eagle standing l. on thunderbolt, monogram AP before; there could have been a monogram upper l. and my very confusing Cleopatra, a Half-unit by its weight, but the denomination mark on the reverse looks like a Π and not like an M. At least the obverse doesn't look too bad Her coinage was on the whole poorly struck. 21 x 22 mm, 7.457 g SNG Copenhagen 422-424; Weiser, Köln, 184-185; Sear, Imperators 949 Ob.: Diademed and draped Cleopatra bust to r. Rev.: ΚΛΕOΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ; Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopiae to left, Π (???) in right field.
