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Message:: [QUOTE="ValiantKnight, post: 6258266, member: 44210"]As part of my new effort in expanding my collection of Ptolemaic coins, I acquired these two interesting (at least to me) pieces. The didrachm is a new years purchase, 1/1; the obol came later. The didrachm denomination is not as common as the usual tetradrachms, plus I loved the portrait and the other details of course, so I had to have it. As I read about Ptolemy VI and the fact that a court official ruling for him had struck coins with his own name on them, that intrigued me enough to want an example of one of these also, hence the acquisition of the obol (its pretty rough but from what I noticed, a scarce type). Ptolemy VI, Ptolemaic KingdomAR didrachmObv: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegisRev: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderboltMint: AlexandriaDate: 162-161 BCRef: Svoronos 1209 [ATTACH=full]1247559[/ATTACH] (not mine, sadly <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />; Ptolemy VI as a Greek king on left, him as Pharaoh on right)[ATTACH=full]1247732[/ATTACH] Ptolemy VI Philomator ("the Mother-loving") was born in 186 BC, and was the eldest son of Ptolemy V and Cleopatra I. He became co-ruler along with his mother when his father died in 180 BC. A few years later, Cleopatra would also pass away. Two officials named Eulaios and Lenaios were appointed to rule in the young Ptolemy’s name. In 170 BC, his brother was crowned co-ruler, becoming Ptolemy VIII. Ptolemy VI, Ptolemaic KingdomAE obolObv: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon rightRev: ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, lotus flower in left field, EYΛ (EUL=Eulaios) between legsMint: Salamis (Cyprus)Date: 180-170 BCRef: Svoronos 1490 [ATTACH=full]1247560[/ATTACH] By the time of Ptolemy VI, the Ptolemaic Kingdom had already engaged in five previous wars with the Seleucid Kingdom. As with his predecessors, Ptolemy VI would also be drawn into conflict with them to decide the fate of Syria. After two years of war the Ptolemaic forces were utterly defeated, with Egypt itself being invaded twice. After the government of Eulaios and Lenaios was overthrown, Ptolemy VI was able to negotiate a humiliating peace with the Seleucids, then ruled by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. This led to his own overthrow and establishment of Ptolemy VIII as sole ruler of Egypt. The two brothers quickly reconciled and began preparation for a resumption of hostilities against the Seleucids, but the Seleucids quickly seized the initiative. It took diplomatic intervention by the Romans to end the war and prevent a Seleucid takeover of Egypt. The failures and humiliation from the conflict led to increased tensions between the two co-rulers, and after Ptolemy VI’s suppression of the last native Egyptian rebellion in 164 BC, Ptolemy VIII expelled VI from Egypt. This was short-lived, however, when VIII himself was forced out of Alexandria by the populace, allowing VI to return. An agreement was reached where VIII was allowed to govern the Ptolemaic province of Cyrenaica. But for the next few years, the brothers would continue to feud on several occasions. (Ptolemaic Egypt, 3rd-2nd centuries BC)[ATTACH=full]1247731[/ATTACH] In the late 150s to the mid-140s BC, Ptolemy VI involved himself in the dynastic conflicts affecting the Seleucid Kingdom at this time, including by military force as he took several Seleucid cities along the Mediterranean coast allegedly in support of the claimant Alexander Balas; but in actuality it was a campaign of annexation. Ptolemy switched his support to Demetrius II after Alexander failed to punish an official of his that plotted to assassinate Ptolemy. Antioch was surrendered to him by its commanders, and Ptolemy was crowned "King of Egypt and Asia". He quickly disavowed and dropped the title, worried that a unification of the Ptolemaic and Seleucid realms would invite an invasion by the Roman Republic (by then a rising power in the Mediterranean). Ptolemy decided to merely retain the territory of Coele Syria, instead. (Stele of a Ptolemaic thyreophoros soldier, circa 2nd century BC) [ATTACH=full]1247743[/ATTACH] Soon after, in 145 BC, Ptolemy and Demetrius met Alexander and his forces at the Oenoparas River, and were able to force him to retreat to Arabia. During the battle, Ptolemy had been fatally wounded, and lingered until he passed away three days later. He was 41 years old. This allowed Demetrius to later retake the territory and cities lost to Ptolemy during the conflict. His death also enabled Ptolemy VIII to retake full control of Egypt. (Mosaic of the Nile, Palestrina, circa 100 BC)[ATTACH=full]1247740[/ATTACH] (all information and non-coin images sourced from Wikipedia) Please post anything (coins, artifacts, etc.) relevant![/QUOTE]

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