Roma Numismatics Ltd
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Western Asia Minor, Uncertain Ptolemais Æ 14mm. Circa 3rd century BC. Laureate head of Apollo to right / ΠΤΟΛΕMAIEΩΝ, amphora. Cf. A. Sallet, 'Ceramus in Carien unter dem Namen Ptolemais' in ZfN 6, 1879, p. 56 (as Keramos-Ptolemais in Karia); J. Friedlaender, 'Ptolemais in Pamphylien, nicht Ceramus unter den Namen Ptolemais' in ZfN 6, 1879, pp. 239-241, (as Ptolemais in Pamphylia); Imhoof-Blumer GM, p.166 (same); cf. SNG Copenhagen 790 (as Lebedos-Ptolemais in Ionia); cf. SNG von Aulock 2026 (same); cf. BMC Thrace, p.204, 1 (as Ptolemaios, king of Thracian tribes); L. Robert, Monnaies antiques en Troade (Paris, 1966), p. 56 (as Larissa-Ptolemais in Troas). 2.25g, 14mm, 12h.
Good Very Fine.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
The origin of this bronze coin has been the subject of debate. According to A. Sallet, the resemblance of the style of Apollo's head and vessel on two bronze coins with the ethnic ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΕΩ(Ν) in the Berliner Collection and British Museum and a coin in the Berliner Museum with the ethnic ΚΕΡΑΜΙΗΤΩΝ led him to the conclusion that all the three coins belongs to Keramos, which was renamed Ptolemais under Ptolemy III Euergetes.
On the other hand, J. Friedlaender attributed this coin to Ptolemais of Pamphylia based on Strabo (xiv, 667 'Then Side, a colony of the Cymaeans, which has a temple of Athena; and nearby is the coast of the Lesser Cibyratae. Then the Melas River and a mooring-place. Then Ptolemaïs, a city. And after this come the boundaries of Pamphylia, and also Coracesium, the beginning of Cilicia Tracheia'). In addition, Imhoof-Blumer chose this attribution through comparison with coins of other Pamphylian cities.
Both SNG Copenhagen and Von Aulock find Lebedos in Ionia as the strongest possibility for a mint attribution. In the Third Syrian War (246-241 BC), Ptolemy III wrested control of several cities in Western Asia Minor from the Seleukids. Lebedos was one such city, which Ptolemy subsequently refounded as Ptolemais.
Interestingly, the BMC catalogue references a Thracian king or dynast named Ptolemaios, while L. Robert finds a similarity between this coin and the coins of Abydos in Troas and suggests the city of Larissa.
In this case, this cataloguer finds that the western part of Asia Minor could be the most likely place to attribute the uncertain Ptolemais, due to style and similarity to other coin types of the same area.
Good Very Fine.
From the inventory of a German dealer.
The origin of this bronze coin has been the subject of debate. According to A. Sallet, the resemblance of the style of Apollo's head and vessel on two bronze coins with the ethnic ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΕΩ(Ν) in the Berliner Collection and British Museum and a coin in the Berliner Museum with the ethnic ΚΕΡΑΜΙΗΤΩΝ led him to the conclusion that all the three coins belongs to Keramos, which was renamed Ptolemais under Ptolemy III Euergetes.
On the other hand, J. Friedlaender attributed this coin to Ptolemais of Pamphylia based on Strabo (xiv, 667 'Then Side, a colony of the Cymaeans, which has a temple of Athena; and nearby is the coast of the Lesser Cibyratae. Then the Melas River and a mooring-place. Then Ptolemaïs, a city. And after this come the boundaries of Pamphylia, and also Coracesium, the beginning of Cilicia Tracheia'). In addition, Imhoof-Blumer chose this attribution through comparison with coins of other Pamphylian cities.
Both SNG Copenhagen and Von Aulock find Lebedos in Ionia as the strongest possibility for a mint attribution. In the Third Syrian War (246-241 BC), Ptolemy III wrested control of several cities in Western Asia Minor from the Seleukids. Lebedos was one such city, which Ptolemy subsequently refounded as Ptolemais.
Interestingly, the BMC catalogue references a Thracian king or dynast named Ptolemaios, while L. Robert finds a similarity between this coin and the coins of Abydos in Troas and suggests the city of Larissa.
In this case, this cataloguer finds that the western part of Asia Minor could be the most likely place to attribute the uncertain Ptolemais, due to style and similarity to other coin types of the same area.