Tetradrachm Ptolemy I elephant scalp

The coin arrived this morning in the Netherlands, good description on the enveloppe ,
makes a hasslefree and fast arrival.
And the coin is much nicer then the pics in the listing.
many thanks to the seller.

 

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A very lovely coin! I love that customs description. Makes it seem like it's a lump of metal going to a metallurgical lab for scientific study.

 

wow, these are out of my league so i don't really know anything about them...but it's an awesome looking coin!

interesting how they described it for shipping purposes. that last time i mailed coins overseas i think i put "metal tokens" or something like that.

 

What a score! One day I'll get one of these as well.

 

I love the detail on both sides. BTW, that is the description I use when sending something overseas.

 

Congrats!

I love these satrapal tets of Ptolemy I Soter and picked up an earlier version at CICF this year.


EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter
AR tetradrachm, 27 mm, 17.0 gm (Attic standard)
Alexandreia mint, struck 313/12 BCE
Obv: Head of the deified Alexander III to right, wearing mitra (headband) of Dionysos and elephant skin headdress, with aegis around his neck, and with horn of Ammon on his forehead
Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Athena Alkidemos advancing right, hurling spear with her right hand and with shield over her extended left arm; to right, eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt to right with ΔΙ below
Ref: Svoronos 33; Zervos series D, issue XIII; SNG Copenhagen 14; BMC 7

From a similar coin in CNG's archives:
"The coinage of Ptolemy I developed in a fairly complex way. He first issued normal issues in the name of Alexander, then changed them by inaugurating a new obverse type showing Alexander wearing an elephant’s skin headdress in circa 321. In 314 this was changed by replacing the seated Zeus on the reverse by an archaizing fighting Athena - Athena Alkidemos. These coins were of Attic weight."

Around 310 BCE, Ptolemy reduced the weight of tetradrachms to ~15 gm and the style of these elephant headdress/Athena coins changed somewhat.

 

Congratulations on the new coin Andres. I've always had an attraction to these and think they are elegant coins. Here's mine.

 

But... but... that's not a Roman Republican! You are not allowed to shop in other departments. You should send it to me

 

LOL! Don't worry TIF, it's nothing more than a prior fling and will no way impact our relationship today. I've put it behind me and only keep a few mementos of what once was.

 

Lovely coins, all!

 

Thanks all for your replies, and its nice to see some other elephants too, great stuff.
after these beautifull coins Ptolemy I choose to put his own face on his tets , hmm
like the Alexander / elephant issues more.
Did a bit of research on these elephants , prices start as low as $400.
Just missed out on a Seleukos I Nikator tet , another ex general of Alexander,
obv Zeus - rev. Quadriga of Elephants driven by Athena.
I've seen one here on the forum, since then its on my watchlist.

 

Fabulous OP coin. So far out of my budget range. I love this forum. I get to see magnificent coins I will probably never be able to afford, but I can drool over them here.

 

Ya, what Pishpash said!

 

Lovely OP coin and fantastic posts!!!

I especially LOVE those Athena advancing reverses!!!

My most recent Ptolemy, courtesy of A-Noob; Ptolemy II:

 

Wonderful example! I recognise that envelope and customs description tag... I'm never disappointed whenever I receive a packet from that sender .

 

Really nice coin, love the details on it plus its pretty rare too.

On a side note to the OP, you should alter the tracking info. out of the picture. People can punch in tracking numbers and find out where you are.

 

I must have missed that you acquired one of these or this is your first post of it? That's awesome. Very envious and on my wantish list.

 

Your example is of the highest quality, of course. Great example. Very detailed reverse.

 

Thanks! I was very happy to find a relatively affordable example of this earlier style elephant headdress tet, issued before the drop in weight.

I snuck it in somewhere, perhaps the Song/Coin thread or Food/Coin thread. I had intended not to show it until I had a fancy writeup ready but I'm very behind on coin organization and writeups.

 

Sewing?