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Lansky Auction 3 5 Jan 2021
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Egypt. Cleopatra (?). Alexandria. 203-176 BC. AV Mnaieion (27.81g, 1h). Svoronos 1498; Tradart 3.108 (this coin). Lightly toned. Perfectly centered and struck in high relief. An impressive coin. Choice extremely fine. From the B.H. collection; "the property of a Lady", Christies 1985 (8 October) lot 418; former Victor Adda (1885-1965) collection
Egypt was the only Hellenistic kingdom to produce an extensive gold coinage. The most abundant issue was the mnaieion (octodrachm) struck in the name of Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II who died in 270 BC. The coins retain the iconography of the earlier Arsinoe's coinage: the obverse has a veiled and diademed portrait and a cornucopia on the reverse. A minor difference indicates the divinity assigned to Arsinoe after her death; protruding beyond the veil below the ear can be seen the tip of a horn, the famous ram's horn of Zeus Ammon which had formed part of the myth of Alexander the Great.
Egypt was the only Hellenistic kingdom to produce an extensive gold coinage. The most abundant issue was the mnaieion (octodrachm) struck in the name of Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II who died in 270 BC. The coins retain the iconography of the earlier Arsinoe's coinage: the obverse has a veiled and diademed portrait and a cornucopia on the reverse. A minor difference indicates the divinity assigned to Arsinoe after her death; protruding beyond the veil below the ear can be seen the tip of a horn, the famous ram's horn of Zeus Ammon which had formed part of the myth of Alexander the Great.