There's a monster in my home!

I've finally gotten a hold of one of these huge Ptolemaic toe-crushers, courtesy of JAZ Numismatics. As usual, this was one of many types of coins on my "list" but wasn't something I was seriously looking for... until a few weeks ago. I initially found a different Ptolemy IV octobol that I wanted at first, but out of random curiosity I decided to look at John's stock for any other coins I might have been interested in. As my luck would have it, he had a slightly heavier and better-looking octobol for almost the same price as the first coin so I decided to go for that one instead. I think my previous largest coin in terms of weight is my Roman Republic Janus As, which is less than half that of my new octobol (71.64 grams). This purchase also marks my return into the realm of Ptolemaic coins.

Ptolemy IV, Ptolemaic Kingdom
Æ octobol
Obv: Head of Zeus-Ammon right.
Rev: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, cornucopia to left.
Mint: Alexandria
Size: 40 mm, 71.64 gr.
Ref: SNG Milano 216

(click photo to enlarge)


Ptolemy IV Philopator (in Greek: Πτολεμαῖος Φιλοπάτωρ, "Ptolemaĩos Philopátōr"; his Egyptian name: Iwaennetjerwy-menkhwy Setepptah Userkare Sekhemankhamun, "Heir of the [two] Beneficent Gods, Chosen of Ptah, Powerful is the Soul of Re, Living Image of Amun") was the fourth ruler of the Ptolemaic Dynasty of Egypt. The Ptolemies took control of Egypt in the wake of the breakup of Alexander's Empire, when Ptolemy I Soter was declared as Pharaoh in 305 BC. Almost a century later in 221 BC, Ptolemy IV succeeded Ptolemy III, his father, as Pharaoh.



Ptolemy IV was a debauched and self-indulgent individual, who let himself be taken advantage of by his favorites in the government, especially by a fellow Greek named Sosibius. It might have been Sosibius that helped to turn Ptolemy against his mother and brother, both of whom the Pharaoh had killed in his first year.

Antiochus III of the Seleucid Empire, taking advantage of Ptolemy and his ineffectual government, began attacking Egyptian possessions in Coele-Syria and Phoenicia. So successful was Antiochus that Egypt proper was vulnerable to invasion. But he was stalled for some time by Ptolemy's negotiators, who managed a four-month truce with the Seleucid king. Ptolemy used this time to raise and equip an army of mercenaries and native Egyptians, which helped him win a decisive battle against the Seleucid forces at Raphia in the summer of 217 BC. The Pharaoh spent little time in re-establishing control in the region in order to quickly return to his lavish lifestyle in Egypt.



His arming of native Egyptians came back to haunt Ptolemy. In general the Egyptians resented this foreign Greek rule over their land, especially since Ptolemaic rule largely only benefited the Greeks in the kingdom. The Ptolemaic kings did not even bother to learn the Egyptian language (until Cleopatra VII). An insurrection was started by the Egyptians that eventually resulted in a rebel kingdom in Upper Egypt that was headed by native Pharaohs. Ptolemy's prosecution of hostilities against these rebels contributed to the economic decline of his kingdom.



Ptolemy is also known for building a massive galley known as the Tessarakonteres (the "forty-rowed"), which was the largest ship built in antiquity and also the largest human-powered vessel ever. However, it was not meant to be operational but rather just for display.



Ptolemy IV died in 204 BC, and was succeeded by (surprise, surprise) Ptolemy V, his son.

Post your Ptolemaic coins or anything else that is relevant!

 

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Well done! Great coin and write-up! Fun to have one of those massive pond-skippers, isn't it! Fun to compare them against other coins... even ones that are smaller in diameter against the thicknes of your Ptolemy!

 

I'm loving the history lesson! Bravo! Bravisimo!!

 

Great information @ValiantKnight and a nice pond skipper.


PTOLEMY IV
AE36
OBVERSE: Diademed head of Zeus Ammon right
REVERSE: PTOLEMIAOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, looking back at cornucopiae under right wing
Struck at Egypt 221-205 BC
46.4g, 36mm
SNG Cop 221

 

Great coin and another much appreciated history lesson. I love the galley graphic too.

 

Thanks all for the comments and great coin Bing!

 

Great coin and write up @ValiantKnight. Ya gotta love these big bronzes.

Ptolemy IV 41mm 62.4g
And I'll throw in my only other Ptolemaic

Ptolemy II 25mm 13.7g

 

Very interesting write up, and great giant coin. Congrats ValiantKnight.

 

A sweet AE

 

Ptolemy I - IV:


Egypt Ptolemy I Soter Tet Delta bankers marks CELATOR DELTA called out


Egypt Ptolemy II 285-274 BC AE 17mm Eagle Cornuc SV 762


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


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

 

Winced when I read that, but it's the perfect description for these. I wouldn't even call them pond-skippers because I imagine them just sinking like a stone the minute they hit the surface. Congrats on the addition to your Greek collection!

 

Great write-up @ValiantKnight and what an impressive coin!

 

Great post, ValiantKnight!

I'm grateful to JAZ Numismatics for the opportunity to acquire the largest coin in my collection!

 

Thanks for the great write-up @ValiantKnight These giant Ptolemaic Bronze series have always been a favorite of mine. Svoronos is finally being updated by Catherine Lorber. The first volume of her much needed work Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire: Ptolemy I - Ptolemy IV is coming out in June.

Ptolemy III Euergetes Oktobol 47mm 83.5g Some tooling SV.446


Ptolemy III Euergetes Drachm 43.3mm 67.521g SV.992

 

Killer new coin, VK! (Literally, if you threw it hard at someone's head )

Can you make out the monogram between the eagle's legs? I think it is ΛI, so Svoronos 1126.

Here's a composite of my Ptolemy bronzes, from Ptolemy II to Cleopatra VII; 48 mm to 14 mm:



One of these days I'll get some bronzes of Ptolemy I. I have some silver of his though

As satrap:

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

An earlier satrapal issue:

EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter
satrap of Tyre, dated RY 32 of king Azemilkos (318/7 BC).
AR tetradrachm, 27 mm, 16.9 gm
Obv: head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress
Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY; Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; ||–= ЧO (date [year 32]) to left
Ref: Price 3283; Newell, Dated 35; DCA 737

As king/pharoah:

EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter
Struck c. 300-285 BCE, Alexandreia mint
AR tetradrachm, 28 mm, 13.92 gm
Obv: diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck, tiny Δ behind ear
Rev: eagle standing left on thunderbolt; to left, P above monogram
Ref: Svoronos 252; SNG Copenhagen 69; Noeske 40

 

Knowing TIF's coin is out there make my 46mm one hide in shame.

 

There's a new kid on the block your coin should instead hide from. Wish I'd bookmarked it-- it's 100+ gms of beauty! I've not seen a better strike (and you know how weak the strikes tend to be on these giant bronzes). I don't remember who owns it. @Curtisimo, maybe??

 

I appreciate the confidence but unfortunately I have to disappoint. I don't yet have one of these magnificent hockey puck impersonating monsters

Beautiful coins all!

 

Back when CNG sold a large selection of the J.P Righetti collection they had this monster as one of the lots. I wish I could claim it as my own, but couldn't afford the price.

Ptolemy III Euergetes Oktobol 47mm 106.01g SV.446

 

Me... But, because it is humongous, the strike is very weak.

These were minted after Hannibal was defeated by Scipio at the Battle of Zama in 202 BCE. Carthage was defeated and owed massive indemnity payments to Rome. Hannibal was asked to lead Carthage and reorganize their finances... This appears to be the largest denomination at 15 Shekels, and is my largest stamped coin...

This guy is literally a PIG of BRONZE... 3+ Troy Ounces

@TIF wins the best looking contest though! Hers is GORGEOUS for the huge strike!





Seller write-up:
Carthage.
Circa 201-175 BC.
Æ 15 Shekels
45 mm. dia. 7.5 mm. thick. 102 gm.
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left
Rev: Horse standing right; uraeus above.
Ref: MAA 104 ; SNG Copenhagen 400.
Comment: Original green patina.
Note: The largest Carthaginian coin and likely one of the largest coins struck in antiquity.
Very rare.

This extraordinary large bronze coin was likely issued under the administration of Hannibal, who, following defeat at the battle of Zama, was appointed as chief magistrate of Carthage. Hannibal worked effectively to restore the finances of Carthage. The annual payment of 10,000 talents to Rome as reparations for the war, and the loss of control over the silver mines in Spain made the issuing of a silver coinage impossible. The immense thickness of this coin also precluded any significant relief of the die's impression.