The New York Sale
Auction 57 10 Jan 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy III Euergetes. Æ Hemidrachm (34.55 g), 246-222 BC. Alexandria. Head of Zeus-Ammon right, wearing tainia. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left on thunderbolt; filleted cornucopiae to left, no control marks. CPE B393; Svoronos 1003; SNG Copenhagen 189-90. Glossy dark brown patina. Superb Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $900 - UP
Ptolemy III Euergetes was the third Ptolemaic pharaoh of Egypt and led the kingdom to the height of its military power and economic prosperity. He added the kingdom of Cyrene to his domain by marrying Berenike, the only child of King Magas of Cyrene, thus greatly expanding his realm, and he also successfully defeated the Seleukids during the Third Syrian War (246-241 BC), although he was unable to maintain gains due to a revolt at home. Later in his reign he maintained a strong opposition to the Antigonids of Macedonia, financing and militarily supporting the Achaian League. Ptolemy III was also a great supporter of scholarship and the arts. He built a second state library and ordered that all manuscripts and texts coming into Egypt be seized and copied before being returned to the owners, thus greatly enhancing the resources of the world's first great research library.
Ex Jack A. Frazer Collection (CNG 114, 14 May 2020), 440; Freeman & Sear FPL 7 (Spring 2003), no. G99.
Ptolemy III Euergetes was the third Ptolemaic pharaoh of Egypt and led the kingdom to the height of its military power and economic prosperity. He added the kingdom of Cyrene to his domain by marrying Berenike, the only child of King Magas of Cyrene, thus greatly expanding his realm, and he also successfully defeated the Seleukids during the Third Syrian War (246-241 BC), although he was unable to maintain gains due to a revolt at home. Later in his reign he maintained a strong opposition to the Antigonids of Macedonia, financing and militarily supporting the Achaian League. Ptolemy III was also a great supporter of scholarship and the arts. He built a second state library and ordered that all manuscripts and texts coming into Egypt be seized and copied before being returned to the owners, thus greatly enhancing the resources of the world's first great research library.
Ex Jack A. Frazer Collection (CNG 114, 14 May 2020), 440; Freeman & Sear FPL 7 (Spring 2003), no. G99.