New Ptolemaic Bronze

Reign of Ptolemy II- Alexandria. Commemorating Alexander the Great. Basically struck in red patina. Svoronos 467.

 

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As strictly an amateur and a collector of Isis coins, I thought I would add my two cents here. Two things:

Isis coins are saleable enough to be commonly faked. (I don't see any suspect ones here.) They appeal greatly to non-coin collectors like new age religious types, Goddess worshipers, etc. There seem to be an awful lot of them for sale lately, many coming from Spain.

Isis coins are frequently described as being Cleopatra I, but I wonder if this is just a sales pitch. There seems to be various types. Generic stylized types, and then scarcer types that seem closer to being actual portraits. I am attaching one of my own (with unsightly die cud), as an example. Notice the bulging Ptolemy eye and the puffy cheeks. There's an inbred Ptolemy look which is easy to spot. (I love this and always look for it.) Maybe it's just the different Die cutters styles? I wish there was a scholarly study on facial types found on these coins that I could read. I do know that there were Hellenistic queens who actually thought they were Isis and had their own cults!


Could this be a die match below? Found online. Not my photo.

 

Hi cmenzer,

You make a good point. Various sources say either Ptolemy III or IV.
https://www.coinarchives.com/a/results.php?search=sear 7815&s=0&upcoming=0&results=100
In the end I went with David Sear's attribution in Greek Coins and Their Values Vol II - 7815. When it comes to ancient coins, I'm going to agree with Sear because I bought his book. It's a lot of money to spend on a book only to then disregard what it says!

 

So I'm just catching up on a slow Sunday morning (I don't think there's anything else going on today.) & I spotted this post. I must say, I am also showing a touch more green (mine is envy) than usual - what a beautiful coin. It still blows my mind that someone could create such an artful coin (just look at the intricacies of the eagle) nearly 2,200 yrs ago!!! I love living vicariously through the ancients threads.

I envision someone in the year 4,200 commenting "Those Neanderthals put a man on the Moon in the 1960's??? - NO WAY!!!

 

No need to live vicariously! Go ahead and get some ancients!

 

Hi Puckles, thank you so much for your answer
I was checking the seller's reference, and I understand perfectly your point.
It seems that numismatics isn't an exact science (yet):-?
Congrats for your coin! It is beautiful
Chris