I found this coin among several other dirty, worn bronzes last night. The profile looks a lot like that of Cleopatra VII. At first I thought it might be a Faustina portrait, but I ruled that out after going online. I've done a very light cleaning so far, just removing surface dirt using distilled water and a toothpick. I'm inclined to leave as-is at this point. The obverse has pretty good detail for this type, but the reverse is just plain worn. It appears that this coin is from Thea Neotera, Tripolis. The diameter is 19mm and the weight is 5.7 grams, 12 h. What are your thoughts? Thanks
This is really a hard one. It doesn't seem to be a drachm because there is a legend on the obverse and Cleopatra's drachms have the legend on the reverse. Isn't something like a quiver on the left behind the head?
Thank you. I was thinking, hopefully no doubt, that this coin might be close to the example below: Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera Æ21. Tripolis, dated Phoenician RY 2 = 36/5 BC. Diademed and draped bust right / Nike, holding wreath and palm, standing right on prow of galley; [ΤΡΙΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ] to left, [L B (date) to right]. Svoronos 1895 corr. (read as RY 22); RPC I 4510 var. (star on rev.); DCA 726; SNG Copenhagen 174; CRI 899. 8.30g, 21mm, 12h. Here's the link: https://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotv...&Lot=810&Val=d73966273295e424e708bf689fab2d7f The obverse of my coin has the large nose and the hair in a bun at the lower back of the head. It is clearer in hand. I'm still trying to learn how to take decent photos of dark, crusty bronze coins - a real challenge. The reverse on my coin is weak and flat. There is a standing figure in the center that seems to be facing right and something towards the bottom that looks like a galley prow pointing right, but its all quite flat, dark and muddy - nothing nearly as clear as Roma's example.
Can you read some of the letters on the obverse? On RPC 4510 there doesn't seem to be an inscription on the obverse, that is why I was thinking of RPC 4773
One other observation. The letters above the obverse portrait seem to be: tp(a?)c. They're all very small somewhat crude. I'm pretty sure about the t, p and c.
There seems to be a suggestion of an obverse legend on the Roma example, but it is weak and obscured by deposits, and probably much of it is off the flan. But, there are hints near 12 o'clock. Are there any other examples? The big problem with her coinage, especially bronze, is that it was mostly poorly produced, heavily circulated, and buried for over thousand years for good measure.
those are then the final 4 letters of ΚΛƐΟΠΑΤΡΑϹ which are on RPC 4773 I can't see any letters on the Roma example. there are two examples at https://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/coins/1/4510 can't see letters on those, and they don't say mention in the description a legend on the obverse Have you looked for examples on acsearch?
Thank you for the link. I'll try acsearch as well. I think this is one more of the innumerable coins whose ambiguous attributions remain forever unresolved. But, it is an interest coin, and it deserves a spot in the collection.
Maybe, but it is always fun to keep researching, until one day one may find the attribution. Absolutely. It certainly is, independently of the right attribution. It also seems to be rare, which collectors usually appreciate.
