Numismatica Genevensis SA
Auction 9 14 December 2015
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Egypt, Ptolemy II, 285 - 246 BC. Tetradrachm, Alexandria. (Silver, 14.23g., 26.1mm). Diademed head of Ptolemy I to right, wearing aegis around his neck; behind head, Β / ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ Eagle, with closed wings, standing left on thunderbolt; between legs, Χ. SNG Copenhagen 137. Svoronos 430.
A lovely, toned example with a very fine head of Ptolemy I. Good extremely fine.
Provenance: Acquired privately from Numismatica Genevensis SA in March 2009.
The importance of this coin stems not from its elegant portrait on the obverse, but from the special legend on the reverse. Instead of the usual Basileos Ptolemaiou, which was the official regnal name of all the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt, this one has Basileos Soteros, which solely refers to the deified founder of the dynasty, Ptolemy I. The aegis that the king wears makes the connection with the divine quite clear: it was not worn by mere mortals but by the gods, as Athena, or other deified heros, such as Alexander himself, as he does on the preceding coin.
A lovely, toned example with a very fine head of Ptolemy I. Good extremely fine.
Provenance: Acquired privately from Numismatica Genevensis SA in March 2009.
The importance of this coin stems not from its elegant portrait on the obverse, but from the special legend on the reverse. Instead of the usual Basileos Ptolemaiou, which was the official regnal name of all the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt, this one has Basileos Soteros, which solely refers to the deified founder of the dynasty, Ptolemy I. The aegis that the king wears makes the connection with the divine quite clear: it was not worn by mere mortals but by the gods, as Athena, or other deified heros, such as Alexander himself, as he does on the preceding coin.