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Lansky Auction 3 5 Jan 2021
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Egypt. Ptolemy. Alexandria. 300-285 BC. AR Tetradrachm (14.64g, 1h). Svoronos 203; Noeske cf.32. Old cabinet tone. Perfectly centered and struck. With a particularly fine portrait. Choice extremely fine. From the E.L. collection; former Yves Goalard (1934-2017) collection
Ptolemy was very early in his use of his portrait as a coin type. This is not inconsistent with the Egyptian tradition of divine kingship, but coinage was a Greek institution used primarily by the Macedonian ruling caste: thus Ptolemy innovation remains both shrwed and daring. His portrait is among the most distinctive of Hellenistic coinage, not only for its blunt, ungainly features, but for the forceful character it reveals. The aegis is a divine attribute, and the reverse type reinforces the Jovian identification.
Ptolemy was very early in his use of his portrait as a coin type. This is not inconsistent with the Egyptian tradition of divine kingship, but coinage was a Greek institution used primarily by the Macedonian ruling caste: thus Ptolemy innovation remains both shrwed and daring. His portrait is among the most distinctive of Hellenistic coinage, not only for its blunt, ungainly features, but for the forceful character it reveals. The aegis is a divine attribute, and the reverse type reinforces the Jovian identification.