Bring on the Ptolemys

Here are all of the bronze Ptolemies I have so far. More than a pound . At some point I'll fill in the gaps, aiming for at least one of each person. Sizes of these coins range from 48 mm to 20 mm. Approximately half were individual purchases and the rest were from a group lot.

 

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Want to sell?

 

Not at the moment . At some point I might sell some of the smaller coins, but most folks are probably looking for the 35+ mm coins. Some of mine have the James Eaton pedigree and that's an interesting feature-- I might be willing to part with one or two of the smaller Eaton coins. His collection was put together in the mid to late 1800s.

 

Surprisingly I have a coin that I can post here!
I present to you all, Homo Neanderta...
Oh I mean Ptolemy I Soter on a tetradrachm from Ptolemy X

 

No, I have you beat. Claudius as Neanderthall (and yes, he really looks like it!). Unfortunately no photo as yet, but I will post as soon as I can, likely a month from now.

 

My favorite Neanderthal is Melqart. Yes, I know, not a Ptolemaic, but our threads never stay on topic.

 

I suppose it is second choice to the popular AE but I rather like the portraiture on the silver. The bronzes are really rather coarsely cut compared to the early silver. This Ptolemy I has the little delta by the ear that is taken to be an engraver signature. I'm sure someone has a nice one.

The Ptolemies also issued some of the largest ancient gold coins. Do I need to say I don't have any?

 

I've been trying to get one for two years but can't seem to find the right coin at the right price at the right time. Someday.

 

i love those big,sweet AE ptolemy coins.

here are some oblique of 'em showing off those sexy curves.

 

What a great family of Ptolemy coins folks!! Chris love that table!!

 

Some Tets.....

Ptolemy I Soter, 294 B.C., Tetradrachm
Silver Tetradrachm of Ptolemy I Soter, founder of the Pteolmaic Kingdom
Obv:– Diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis
Rev:– ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, monogram left
Minted in Alexandria, B.C. 294
Reference:– Svoronos 236, SNG Cop 75
14.379g, 29.9mm, 0o

The following notes were provided by the dealer in their catalog description.
"Struck on a briefly used standard of 21-attic obols. Broad flan. Overstruck over an Alexander tetradrachm, which had a banker's mark. Undertype visible at 4:00 on obverse. Minor chip. Rare overstrike!"

Many thanks to mihali84 for spotting the signature on the coin. The coin has the signature of the Delta artist behind the ear (between the ear and the first curl near the neck). I was not aware of this wonderful detail and it wasn't mentioned by Forum in their description either. This artist was a master craftsman and was responsible for some coins of high artistry at Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I (possibly into the early reign of Ptolemy II) and produced from quite early in the reign, including one of the iconic elephant's skin headdress tetradrachm.

 

Ptolemy II Soter (285 - 246 B.C.), Tetradrachm

Obv:– Diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis
Rev:- PTOLEMAIOY [SOTERWS], eagle standing left, head left, on thunderbolt, wings closed, PT and ME monograms left, date AL and Q right
Minted in Galilee, Ake Ptolemais, Year 31. B.C. 255
Reference:– BMC.112 var. Svoronos 774 pl. XXV/10 (4 ex.) SNG Cop.470. Delepierre- Gülnar 2/4074 pl. 129(6 ex.)

 

Ptolemy VI Philometor, 180-145 B.C., Tetradrachm

Obv:– Diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis
Rev:- PTOLEMAIOY BASILEOS, eagle standing left, head left, on thunderbolt, wings closed
Minted in Alexandria, B.C. 180-145
Reference:– Svoronos 1489, SNG Cop 262
14.031g, 27.3m, 0o

Additional comments from dealer - "Ptolemy VI became king in 180 B.C. at the age of about 6 and ruled jointly with his mother, Cleopatra I, until her death in 176 BC. From 170 to 164 B.C., Egypt was ruled by Ptolemy, his sister-queen and his younger brother Ptolemy VIII Physcon. In 170 BC, the Seleukid King Antiochus IV invaded and was even crowned king in 168, but abandoned his claim on the orders from Rome. In 164 Ptolemy VI was driven out by his brother. He went to Rome and received support from Cato. He was restored the following year. In 152 BC, he briefly ruled jointly with his son, Ptolemy Eupator, but his son probably died that same year. In 145 B.C. he died of battle wounds received against Alexander Balas of Syria. Ptolemy VI ruled uneasily, cruelly suppressing frequent rebellions."

 

Cleopatra III and Ptolemy X Soter, 110 - 109 B.C. and 107 - 101 B.C., Tetradrachm

Obv:– Diademed head of Ptolemy I right wearing aegis
Rev:- PTOLEMAIOY BASILEOS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed, L I (year 10 of Cleopatra's reign) left, PA right;
Minted in Paphos, B.C. 110
Reference:– Svoronos 1668, SNG Cop -, Noeske -,
14.258g, 24,1mm, 0o

After the death of Ptolemy VIII in 116 B.C. Cleopatra III ruled jointly with her mother Cleopatra II and her son Ptolemy IX. Cleopatra III expelled Ptolemy IX 110 B.C. and replaced him as co-regent with her second son Ptolemy X. Ptolemy IX regained the throne in 109 but was again replaced in 107 B.C. In 101 B.C., after 6 years of joint rule Ptolemy X had his mother Cleopatra III murdered.

 

I rarely see one of these that I like enough to buy, because if I did, I would.

This one is one of those rare ones.

 

I love when Martin shows up to the party, very nice!!

 

Atta-boy, Eng ... I'm glad to see that you're scooping-up more sweet PT-examples!!




Sadly, my examples aren't as well-endowed as TIF's bad-boy!! (a couple of my examples are a bit over 70 grams, but I'm not packin' one of those 90+ grams babies like TIF & Doug!!)

 

Martin, you got some amazing coins! I drooled for a couple o' minutes.

 

Thanks for showing up to the party Steve!!

 

I'm a little late to the thread, but I got a few Ptolemies...

Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy IV Philopator. 222-205/4 BC. Æ Drachm (39mm, 65g). Alexandria mint. Series 5. Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right / ΠΤΟΛΣΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΣΩΣ Eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; to left, filleted cornucopia; Σ control mark between legs. Svoronos 992; Weiser 61 (Ptolemy III); SNG Copenhagen 205-6; Noeske 147-9. Svoronos attributes to Ptolemy III


Ptolemy III, Euergetes, 246-222 BC Æ Chalkous(12.0mm, 2.0g). Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right/ΠΤΟΛΣΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΣΩΣ Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, trident left. Ex. J. P. Righetti Collection #43. Svoronos 840

Size comparison. Top right is in the John Anthony collection now.


And a "different" kind of Ptolemaic:

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy III, Euergetes, 246-222 BC Æ22(22.0mm, 7.18g). Kyrene, Libya mint. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right/BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, Head of Libya right, hair bound with tania, small double cornucopia below chin. Svoronos 871