Heritage World Coin Auctions
NYINC Signature Sale 3071 6-7 Jan 2019
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Arsinöe II Philadelphus (died 270/268 BC). AV mnaieion or octodrachm (29mm, 27.91 gm, 11h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5. Posthumous issue of Alexandria, under Ptolemy II, ca. 252/1-250/49 BC. Veiled head of the deified Arsinöe II right, wearing diademed stephane and horn of Ammon, lotus-tipped scepter over far shoulder; Λ in left field, dotted border / APΣINOHΣ-ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia bound with fillet, grape bunches hanging at sides. CPE 391. Svoronos 476.
Ex NAC 110, (24 September 2018), lot 107. Previously purchased privately from NGSA, Geneva in 2014.
This impressive denomination, today usually called an octodrachm, was worth 100 silver drachms, or one mina, a considerable fortune in ancient times. The Greco-Egyptians called the 100-mina piece a mnaieion (min-EYE-on). Calculating its buying power in modern terms is difficult, but a rough equivalent might be around $4,000. These impressive pieces were first struck under Ptolemy II (282-246 BC), who built the famous Library of Alexandria and towering Pharos lighthouse. In 279 BC he married his sister, the beautiful and ambitious Arsinöe, in the manner of the old Egyptian pharaohs. The sibling marriage scandalized Greek society, which gave Arsinöe the nickname Philadelphus, or "brother-lover." Arsinöe embraced the term, making it part of her royal title. Arsinöe's regal profile, veiled and crowned with a jeweled coronet, graces the obverse of this attractive type. The double-cornucopia on the reverse symbolized both Egypt's abundance and the joint rule of Ptolemy and Arsinöe. Gold coins bearing Arsinöe's portrait continued to be struck for centuries after her death in 270 or 268 BC.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 30000-40000 USD
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Arsinöe II Philadelphus (died 270/268 BC). AV mnaieion or octodrachm (29mm, 27.91 gm, 11h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5. Posthumous issue of Alexandria, under Ptolemy II, ca. 252/1-250/49 BC. Veiled head of the deified Arsinöe II right, wearing diademed stephane and horn of Ammon, lotus-tipped scepter over far shoulder; Λ in left field, dotted border / APΣINOHΣ-ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia bound with fillet, grape bunches hanging at sides. CPE 391. Svoronos 476.
Ex NAC 110, (24 September 2018), lot 107. Previously purchased privately from NGSA, Geneva in 2014.
This impressive denomination, today usually called an octodrachm, was worth 100 silver drachms, or one mina, a considerable fortune in ancient times. The Greco-Egyptians called the 100-mina piece a mnaieion (min-EYE-on). Calculating its buying power in modern terms is difficult, but a rough equivalent might be around $4,000. These impressive pieces were first struck under Ptolemy II (282-246 BC), who built the famous Library of Alexandria and towering Pharos lighthouse. In 279 BC he married his sister, the beautiful and ambitious Arsinöe, in the manner of the old Egyptian pharaohs. The sibling marriage scandalized Greek society, which gave Arsinöe the nickname Philadelphus, or "brother-lover." Arsinöe embraced the term, making it part of her royal title. Arsinöe's regal profile, veiled and crowned with a jeweled coronet, graces the obverse of this attractive type. The double-cornucopia on the reverse symbolized both Egypt's abundance and the joint rule of Ptolemy and Arsinöe. Gold coins bearing Arsinöe's portrait continued to be struck for centuries after her death in 270 or 268 BC.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 30000-40000 USD