Heritage World Coin Auctions
CSNS Signature Sale 3107 3-5 May 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285/4-246 BC). AV trichryson or pentadrachm (22mm, 17.85 gm, 12h). NGC AU★ 5/5 - 4/5. Alexandria, ca. 282 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I Soter right, aegis tied around neck; dotted border / ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed; Σ in left field, dotted border. CPE 276. Svoronos 547. Well-centered and delicately rendered with cartwheeling marigold brilliance across the devices.
The trichryson, a gold piece of about 24mm and 17.8 grams (the approximate size and weight of an Attic silver tetradrachm), was first introduced by Ptolemy I shortly after he assumed the title of Basileus (king) in 305 BC. The weight was equivalent to five Ptolemaic silver drachms on the reduced Phoenician standard adopted by Ptolemy I (hence the modern term "pentadrachm" usually applied to this denomination) but under the Ptolemaic system the value would have been 12 times as great, or 60 silver drachms - a huge sum in the ancient world. It was the largest gold coin the world had yet seen, testament to the vast wealth of Egypt. The Alexandria mint employed the best engravers in the production of its gold coinage and the quality of portraiture is typically outstanding. The production of gold trichrysons continued under Ptolemy II Philadelphus until circa August 272 BC, when it was replaced by an even larger gold coin, the mnaieion, worth 100 silver drachms.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ptolemaic-egypt-ptolemy-ii-philadelphus-285-4-246-bc-av-trichryson-or-pentadrachm-22mm-1785-gm-12h-/a/3107-30030.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3107-05032023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD
PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285/4-246 BC). AV trichryson or pentadrachm (22mm, 17.85 gm, 12h). NGC AU★ 5/5 - 4/5. Alexandria, ca. 282 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I Soter right, aegis tied around neck; dotted border / ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed; Σ in left field, dotted border. CPE 276. Svoronos 547. Well-centered and delicately rendered with cartwheeling marigold brilliance across the devices.
The trichryson, a gold piece of about 24mm and 17.8 grams (the approximate size and weight of an Attic silver tetradrachm), was first introduced by Ptolemy I shortly after he assumed the title of Basileus (king) in 305 BC. The weight was equivalent to five Ptolemaic silver drachms on the reduced Phoenician standard adopted by Ptolemy I (hence the modern term "pentadrachm" usually applied to this denomination) but under the Ptolemaic system the value would have been 12 times as great, or 60 silver drachms - a huge sum in the ancient world. It was the largest gold coin the world had yet seen, testament to the vast wealth of Egypt. The Alexandria mint employed the best engravers in the production of its gold coinage and the quality of portraiture is typically outstanding. The production of gold trichrysons continued under Ptolemy II Philadelphus until circa August 272 BC, when it was replaced by an even larger gold coin, the mnaieion, worth 100 silver drachms.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-ptolemaic-egypt-ptolemy-ii-philadelphus-285-4-246-bc-av-trichryson-or-pentadrachm-22mm-1785-gm-12h-/a/3107-30030.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-3107-05032023
HID02906262019
© 2022 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 10000-15000 USD