Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVII 28 Mar 2019
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Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy I, as satrap, AV Stater. Alexandria, circa 312/11 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant skin and aegis, horn of Ammon over ear / Prow of galley to right, adorned with one large and one small protective eye. CPE 38; Svoronos 25; Zervos Type V, Issue 87; Gulbenkian 1071 = Jameson 999; Saida 41; Triton XIX, 2076 = Nomos 7, 149 = NAC 46, 303. 8.54g, 18mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine; some flattening around the edge and rims, ex-jewellery. Extremely Rare, one of only seven known, and one of only four in private hands (the others in Athens, Lisbon, and Paris).
One of the great rarities of the Ptolemaic coinage, this type is not only wonderful in its simplicity but stunningly beautiful in its execution. Bearing neither inscription nor control symbols – a unique feature that makes it stand out from the rest of Ptolemy's coinage – the type nonetheless is inextricably linked to the Athena Promachos and Zeus Aëtophoros tetradrachms and a unique gold stater (NAC 66, 77) which all use the deified head of Alexander wearing an elephant skin headdress as the obverse type, as well as small bronzes which feature a portrait of Ptolemy I and a prow on the reverse. Lorber notes that the obverse portrait closely parallels that of a transitional tetradrachm minted at Alexandria and argues this, along with find site information, provides a terminus post quem for the issue of 312.
Zervos, in his study of the early coinage of Ptolemy I, although certain that the type was contemporary to the Attic weight silver coins and minted at Alexandria, was unable to ascribe it to a historical context. The occasion for the striking of this coin may have been the reconquest of Cyprus in 313/312 from cities who had switched their allegiance to Antigonus Monophthalmos and thus, a celebration of Ptolemy's naval exploits. Although his own Cypriot allies had been conducting operations against those aligned with Antigonos for several years with some success, Ptolemy himself proceeded to Cyprus at the head of a significant army and fleet. Once there he swiftly eliminated the pro-Antigonid factions, capturing and killing the king of Kition, and subduing Marion and Lapithos-Kyrenia, the former of which was destroyed. Many of the formerly independent kingdoms of Cyprus were subjugated or absorbed by his local allies.
The use of the head of Alexander on the obverse of this coin and others mentioned above is a clear illustration of Ptolemy's claim to be the legitimate successor to the legacy of Alexander. Intercepting the body of Alexander in 322/1 in Syria as it was being moved from Babylon to Macedon and diverting it to Memphis was a very direct statement of this claim, since by custom, Macedonian kings asserted their right to the throne by burying their predecessor. Lorber points out that the dating of the coin corresponds to the transfer of Ptolemy's capital from Memphis to Alexandria and the minting of the coin there may commemorate the new base of the Egyptian fleet within a city sacred to Alexander.
Extremely Fine; some flattening around the edge and rims, ex-jewellery. Extremely Rare, one of only seven known, and one of only four in private hands (the others in Athens, Lisbon, and Paris).
One of the great rarities of the Ptolemaic coinage, this type is not only wonderful in its simplicity but stunningly beautiful in its execution. Bearing neither inscription nor control symbols – a unique feature that makes it stand out from the rest of Ptolemy's coinage – the type nonetheless is inextricably linked to the Athena Promachos and Zeus Aëtophoros tetradrachms and a unique gold stater (NAC 66, 77) which all use the deified head of Alexander wearing an elephant skin headdress as the obverse type, as well as small bronzes which feature a portrait of Ptolemy I and a prow on the reverse. Lorber notes that the obverse portrait closely parallels that of a transitional tetradrachm minted at Alexandria and argues this, along with find site information, provides a terminus post quem for the issue of 312.
Zervos, in his study of the early coinage of Ptolemy I, although certain that the type was contemporary to the Attic weight silver coins and minted at Alexandria, was unable to ascribe it to a historical context. The occasion for the striking of this coin may have been the reconquest of Cyprus in 313/312 from cities who had switched their allegiance to Antigonus Monophthalmos and thus, a celebration of Ptolemy's naval exploits. Although his own Cypriot allies had been conducting operations against those aligned with Antigonos for several years with some success, Ptolemy himself proceeded to Cyprus at the head of a significant army and fleet. Once there he swiftly eliminated the pro-Antigonid factions, capturing and killing the king of Kition, and subduing Marion and Lapithos-Kyrenia, the former of which was destroyed. Many of the formerly independent kingdoms of Cyprus were subjugated or absorbed by his local allies.
The use of the head of Alexander on the obverse of this coin and others mentioned above is a clear illustration of Ptolemy's claim to be the legitimate successor to the legacy of Alexander. Intercepting the body of Alexander in 322/1 in Syria as it was being moved from Babylon to Macedon and diverting it to Memphis was a very direct statement of this claim, since by custom, Macedonian kings asserted their right to the throne by burying their predecessor. Lorber points out that the dating of the coin corresponds to the transfer of Ptolemy's capital from Memphis to Alexandria and the minting of the coin there may commemorate the new base of the Egyptian fleet within a city sacred to Alexander.