Ptolemy IV AE40 Hockey Puck

These big Ptolemy bronzes were one of the first ancient coins to get my interest before I actually started collecting ancients. This one is my largest and heaviest:


Ptolemy II, BC 285-246
AE42, 63.51g, 12h
Obv.: head of Zeus-Ammon right
Rev.: ΠΤΟΛΣΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΣΩΣ; two eagles standign left on thunderbolt, Θ between legs of left eagle

Going big in Ptolemies is easy but getting the biggest, in my experience, is a challenge. I've also noticed it's challenging to get small, the smaller, the harder to find. Experiences may vary, I've never been to a coin show and my network of sellers is pretty small. Here's my latest Ptolemy and it's my smallest that features Zeus-Ammon obverse with eagle reverse:


Ptolemy III, 246-222 BC
Æ, 16mm, 4.8g, 12h; Alexandria series 5, mid to late reign.
Obv.: Head of Zeus Ammon right.
Rev.: Eagle standing left, wings closed; cornucopia on left shoulder.

I'm not comfortable assigning denominations because I don't understand what they mean and I haven't yet seen anything that clearly explained the differences. Looking at ptolemybronze.com some issues from some mints are given denominations but then the next mint for the same ruler does not. I'm uncomfortable with the inconsistency because I just don't understand it.

 

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LOVE this thread!!!

Two of mine, Ptolemy IV and VI---just 'average' size I'm afraid. I'm still in awe of the monster @TIF owns

 

Fun to have bronzes! Congrats @Sallent for your "Junior Edition"! @TIF always wins the game with her monster. Even my Aes Grave Triens is a few grams less than hers.

My Largest AE Egyptian Ptolemy:


Egypt Ptolemy IV 221-205 BC AE Tet 40mm 7.2 thick 69.5g Zeus Ammon Eagle


Egypt Ptolemy III AE Tet 41mm 7.2mm thick 67.5g Zeus Ammon Eagle

That 7.2mm thick is thicker than the WIDTH of several of my small Ancient coins!


Here are some BABY Bronzes:


Egypt Ptolemy II 285-274 BC AE Obol 20mm 6.7g Alex III Eagle Tbolt SV 601


Egypt Ptolemy III 245-222 BC AE 12mm 2.0g Chalkous Zeus-Ammon Eagle Tbolt SV 840 Righetti Col

 

Sweet coins, everybody!!

Ummm, I have a couple of sweet 40 mm x 70 grams babies in the bunch, but nothing too outstanding

 

To address one question here: dimples on ancient coins remain a mystery though there are some theories. They are either a relic of flan preparation or the use of tongs when handling and striking. See Ancient Coin Collecting IV, Roman Provincial Coins, by Wayne Sayles, pages 130 and 131. Also, see Letter to the Editor, from The Celator, Volume VI No. 10, October 1992, page 42:

https://community.vcoins.com/celator-vol-06-no-10/

 

I believe the value in obols / drachma doesn't depend on the weight only,
the period it was minted is also important.
Over time these Ptolemic bronzes dropped in weight, but held their value in obols.
meaning a tetrobol (4 obols) minted in 250 BC had a weight of approx. 60 gram, the same valued tetrobol minted in 150 BC only had a weight of approx. 20 gram.
this is simply inflation.
Its much harder to determine with these Egyptian coins since there is no value mentioned on the coins themselves.
Compared to the bronze As of the Roman Empire , which dropped in weight in the same way, its much easier.
see picture: As weight between 200-100 BC from 42 gram to 15 gram.

 

Good point Andres, about inflation.

 

Did you mean drachm? I wasn't aware there was a period where a ~60-gram Ptolemaic bronze was referred to as a tetrobol. I had mentioned the drachms attributed to Ptolemies II-IV by way of context, as we were talking about the contemporary ~45-gram coins being shown, but I probably should been clearer on this point .

 

Nice coins everyone! I'm holding out for one of those monster 90+ gram octobols, myself.

 

@zumbly I mean 6 obols or 1 drachma , and I dont focus on 45 gram coins nor do I focus on Ptolemy II - III or IV , its simply a general observation that these coins dropped in weight over time. I think the picture of the AS roman republic coins makes it clear what I mean.

 

I just picked this monster up... 46mm and 93g. "Octobol"? I'm super ignorant on Ptolemaic, this is in fact my first example. (Ex Dattari.)

 

What a show off

Congrats on that monster coin. It looks extremely nice. Tons of eye appeal.

 

Spectacular!

 

Absolutely!!!

 

I figured it would also go for a monster price, and was amazed when I came away with it for 260 euros. OK price, right??

 

Freakin' awesome price!

 

Very ok! Nice score!

 

Looks like I'm lucky no cointalkers were tracking that one!

 

Spectacular SA

 

Wow, I'm jealous. And what a great price you got in it!