Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3075 15 Aug 2019
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Ancients
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter (305-282 BC). AV trichryson or pentadrachm (24mm, 17.78 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, graffiti. Uncertain mint 9 in Cyprus, from ca. 294 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis tied around neck, tiny Δ behind ear; dotted border / ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed; EY above KΛE monogram above A in left field, dotted border. CPE 226. Svoronos 374 (Ptolemy II). Extremely rare - no examples in sales archives and only two examples known to Svoronos.
From the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection.
The trichryson, a gold piece of about 24mm and 17.8 grams (the approximate size and weight of an Attic silver tetradrachm), was first introduced by Ptolemy I shortly after he assumed the title of Basileus (king) in 305 BC. The weight was equivalent to five Ptolemaic silver drachms on the reduced Phoenician standard adopted by Ptolemy I (hence the modern term "pentadrachm" usually applied to this denomination) but under the Ptolemaic system the value would have been 12 times as great, or 60 silver drachms, a huge sum in the ancient world and equivalent to perhaps $2,500 in modern U.S. currency. It was the largest gold coin the world had yet seen, testament to the vast wealth of Egypt. The Alexandria mint employed the best engravers in the production of its gold coinage and the quality of portraiture is typically outstanding, as evidenced on this obverse die signed by the Delta (Δ) master. The production of gold trichrysons continued under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, with the added feature of a regnal date between the eagle's legs. Circa 270 BC it was replaced by an even larger gold coin, the mnaieion, worth 100 silver drachms.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ptolemaic-egypt-ptolemy-i-soter-305-282-bc-av-trichryson-or-pentadrachm-24mm-1778-gm-12h-ngc-au-5-/a/3075-32035.s?type=CoinArchives3075
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter (305-282 BC). AV trichryson or pentadrachm (24mm, 17.78 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, graffiti. Uncertain mint 9 in Cyprus, from ca. 294 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis tied around neck, tiny Δ behind ear; dotted border / ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed; EY above KΛE monogram above A in left field, dotted border. CPE 226. Svoronos 374 (Ptolemy II). Extremely rare - no examples in sales archives and only two examples known to Svoronos.
From the Allen Moretti Swiss Collection.
The trichryson, a gold piece of about 24mm and 17.8 grams (the approximate size and weight of an Attic silver tetradrachm), was first introduced by Ptolemy I shortly after he assumed the title of Basileus (king) in 305 BC. The weight was equivalent to five Ptolemaic silver drachms on the reduced Phoenician standard adopted by Ptolemy I (hence the modern term "pentadrachm" usually applied to this denomination) but under the Ptolemaic system the value would have been 12 times as great, or 60 silver drachms, a huge sum in the ancient world and equivalent to perhaps $2,500 in modern U.S. currency. It was the largest gold coin the world had yet seen, testament to the vast wealth of Egypt. The Alexandria mint employed the best engravers in the production of its gold coinage and the quality of portraiture is typically outstanding, as evidenced on this obverse die signed by the Delta (Δ) master. The production of gold trichrysons continued under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, with the added feature of a regnal date between the eagle's legs. Circa 270 BC it was replaced by an even larger gold coin, the mnaieion, worth 100 silver drachms.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ptolemaic-egypt-ptolemy-i-soter-305-282-bc-av-trichryson-or-pentadrachm-24mm-1778-gm-12h-ngc-au-5-/a/3075-32035.s?type=CoinArchives3075
HID02906262019
© 2019 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD