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January Signature Sale 3089 21-22 Jan 2021
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PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Arsinöe II Philadelphus (277-270/268 BC). AV mnaieion or octodrachm (28mm, 27.72 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5. Posthumous issue of Alexandria, under Ptolemy VI-VIII, ca. 204-180 BC. Veiled head of deified Arsinöe II right, wearing diademed stephane and horn of Ammon, scepter surmounted by lotus over far shoulder; A in left field, dotted border / APΣINOHΣ-ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia bound with fillet, containing pyramidal cakes, pomegranates and other fruits, grape cluster hanging from the rim of each horn; dotted border. Svoronos 1164 (Ptolemy IV). Extremely rare - the only example in sales archives.
From the Penn Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 43 (24 September 1997), lot 891
Gold mnaieions were first struck under the enlightened 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 II, 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, and she proudly placed it on her coinage. Arsinöe's regal profile, veiled and crowned with a jeweled coronet, graces the obverse of most Ptolemaic gold octodrachms. 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 ca. 270/68 BC.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ptolemaic-egypt-arsinoe-ii-philadelphus-277-270-268-bc-av-mnaieion-or-octodrachm-28mm-2772-gm-12h-/a/3089-31043.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Arsinöe II Philadelphus (277-270/268 BC). AV mnaieion or octodrachm (28mm, 27.72 gm, 12h). NGC AU 5/5 - 4/5. Posthumous issue of Alexandria, under Ptolemy VI-VIII, ca. 204-180 BC. Veiled head of deified Arsinöe II right, wearing diademed stephane and horn of Ammon, scepter surmounted by lotus over far shoulder; A in left field, dotted border / APΣINOHΣ-ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia bound with fillet, containing pyramidal cakes, pomegranates and other fruits, grape cluster hanging from the rim of each horn; dotted border. Svoronos 1164 (Ptolemy IV). Extremely rare - the only example in sales archives.
From the Penn Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 43 (24 September 1997), lot 891
Gold mnaieions were first struck under the enlightened 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 II, 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, and she proudly placed it on her coinage. Arsinöe's regal profile, veiled and crowned with a jeweled coronet, graces the obverse of most Ptolemaic gold octodrachms. 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 ca. 270/68 BC.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ptolemaic-egypt-arsinoe-ii-philadelphus-277-270-268-bc-av-mnaieion-or-octodrachm-28mm-2772-gm-12h-/a/3089-31043.s?type=CoinArchives3089
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD