Is the bird on the back of these coin an eagle or something else. Wildwinds indenifies it as an eagle, but I think a falcon is more likely by appearence and prominence in Egyptian mythology.
I agree with you, falcon .. but I found this https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wik...me_-_Jacob_van_Maerlant_-_KB_KA_16_-_085v.jpg
It is an eagle, most assuredly a Golden Eagle. The giveaway is that it is resting on a thunderbolt. Both thunder and eagles were associated with Zeus in Greek mythology (Ptolemy was Macedonian Greek). Golden Eagles live on mountains which were considered the domain of Zeus as lord of the sky. It is not uncommon to see these symbols together. Nice coin btw. It is a Ptolemy I Soter same as mine below. Note the delta behind the ear. Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt Ptolemy I Soter, (305-282 BC) AR Tetradrachm, Alexandria mint, struck ca. 300-285 BC Dia.: 26 mm Wt.: 14.13 g Obv.: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis around neck. Δ behind ear Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt. P above monogram ΠΑΡ Ref.: Noesje 41-42. SNG Copenhagen 70-71. Svoronos 255 Ex W.F. Stoecklin, Ex Karl Steiner (1940s), signed by Delta. Write up: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/curtisimos-2017-an-overview-and-top-10.307792/ Golden eagle Painting of Jupiter at Pompeii showing thunderbolt and Golden Eagle.
