Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3048 11 August 2016
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PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Berenice II (ca. 246-222 BC). AV Attic pentadrachm (25mm, 21.34 gm, 12h). Alexandria, under Ptolemy III, ca. 242-241 BC. Diademed, veiled and draped bust of Berenice right, within dotted border / BAΣIΛΣΣHΣ BEPENIKHΣ, cornucopia bound with diadem, flanked by two six-pointed stars, E in lower right field. Svoronos 973. Boston MFA 2279 (same obverse die). Very rare! Boldly struck on a broad flan, with an outstanding portrait. NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5. One of the most formidable Ptolemaic queens, Berenice II's family background was unusually convoluted and bloody even by Egyptian standards. Born in 267 BC, she was the daughter of the Cyrenaican king Magas and his wife Apama. In 249 BC, upon the death of Magas her mother married her off to Demetrius the Fair, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes, who was invited to become king of Cyrenaica. Demetrius, however, was more interested in Apama than her daughter and, catching him in her mother's bed, Berenice stabbed him to death. Despite this, her legendary beauty prompted Ptolemy III of Egypt to marry her in 244/3 BC and the duo became the foremost "power couple" in the world. Berenice appears to have ruled Egypt quite capably during her husband's long campaigns of conquest. She had six children, one of whom, Ptolemy IV, succeeded to the throne in 221 BC. Berenice originally ruled jointly with him but was soon murdered, probably at the instigation of her son. The extensive lifetime portrait coinage in her name includes a series of issues which appear to be on the Attic weight standard, not normally employed in Ptolemaic Egypt. These coins may have been intended for circulation in newly conquered Seleucid territories, which employed the Attic standard.
Estimate: 40000-50000 USD
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Berenice II (ca. 246-222 BC). AV Attic pentadrachm (25mm, 21.34 gm, 12h). Alexandria, under Ptolemy III, ca. 242-241 BC. Diademed, veiled and draped bust of Berenice right, within dotted border / BAΣIΛΣΣHΣ BEPENIKHΣ, cornucopia bound with diadem, flanked by two six-pointed stars, E in lower right field. Svoronos 973. Boston MFA 2279 (same obverse die). Very rare! Boldly struck on a broad flan, with an outstanding portrait. NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5. One of the most formidable Ptolemaic queens, Berenice II's family background was unusually convoluted and bloody even by Egyptian standards. Born in 267 BC, she was the daughter of the Cyrenaican king Magas and his wife Apama. In 249 BC, upon the death of Magas her mother married her off to Demetrius the Fair, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes, who was invited to become king of Cyrenaica. Demetrius, however, was more interested in Apama than her daughter and, catching him in her mother's bed, Berenice stabbed him to death. Despite this, her legendary beauty prompted Ptolemy III of Egypt to marry her in 244/3 BC and the duo became the foremost "power couple" in the world. Berenice appears to have ruled Egypt quite capably during her husband's long campaigns of conquest. She had six children, one of whom, Ptolemy IV, succeeded to the throne in 221 BC. Berenice originally ruled jointly with him but was soon murdered, probably at the instigation of her son. The extensive lifetime portrait coinage in her name includes a series of issues which appear to be on the Attic weight standard, not normally employed in Ptolemaic Egypt. These coins may have been intended for circulation in newly conquered Seleucid territories, which employed the Attic standard.
Estimate: 40000-50000 USD