I was wondering how someone can tell which tetradrachms are of Ptolemy XII Auletes and which of Cleopatra VII. I find them quite similar, with the same control marks and very similar looking portraits. Also I have heard the theory that Cleopatra got subtlety her characteristics mixed with the classic Ptolemy I portrait, but I see that Auletes already made the face thinner on his coins and with less of the prominent features of his anssestor.
Probably by the date on the coin. Look for the symbol L ( abbreviation of ETOUS, the year of ...) by the number in the Greek system of writing numbers. I don't know off hand what the date would have been but those issued after the death of Ptolemy and the accession of Cleopatra would be her coins, those before, his. I do know that Ptolemy Auletes issued tetradrachmas in 53 BC which on his coins were dated LKH (year 28) so I imagine that those after the next couple of years would be Cleopatra's coins. Stay tuned. An expert in Ptolemaic coinage will probably be along who can better calculate the exact date of change.
But the date doesn't mean how many years of reign? So can't for example both Cleopatra and Ptolemy XII have the same year on their coins on their for example second year of reign (LB)?
Yes. Cleo's portraits are somewhat feminized and that will help with those dates that can be used for either's reign, but that is not definitive. A coin dated as the 28th year cannot be one of Cleopatra but one of the year 10 could be either. May I suggest that you Google, Regnal dates on late Ptolemaic and then check Coin Talk's own archives for this topic especially those written by coinDoctor YT or member Doug Schmidt who know a lot more about these than I do, the experts who I mentioned above who can help you better with this.
