Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Ptolemy V Epiphanes, 205 – 180.
Octodrachm, uncertain mint circa 205-180, AV 27.77 g. Draped bust of Ptolemy V r., wearing radiate diadem and chlamys; spear over l. shoulder. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ? ΠTOΛEMAIOY Radiate cornucopiae bound with royal diadem and surmounted by radiate crown; at either side, star. In lower l. field, monogram. Svoronos 1527 and pl. 41, 18 (these dies). Hunterian III pl. 83, 11.
Extremely rare. A fantastic portrait of excellent Hellenistic style struck in high relief,
minor nicks on cheek and on edge, otherwise extremely fine / good extremely fine
Ex Hess-Leu sale 7 April 1960, 266. From a Distinguished Swiss Collection.
The reign of Ptolemy V is perhaps best known for the Rosetta stone, which was inscribed to document his Egyptian coronation some eight years after he had assumed the throne of government as a boy. However, his reign also offers much for the numismatic record with a wealth of coin types. Of special interest is the diversity of portrait coins struck by Ptolemy V. Otto Morkholm described just one of his series as "a welcome oasis in the vast desert of portraits of Ptolemy I, reproduced again and again with ever-increasing dullness". After his reign there is a noticeable decline in the variety, quality and artistic merit of Ptolemaic coinage. The gold octadrachms of Ptolemy V are of extraordinary interest since, at the very least, they include issues with his own portrait (with and without a spear over his shoulder) as well as issues portraying his father Ptolemy IV, his mother Arsinoe III, his grandfather Ptolemy III, his great-grandmother Arsinoe II, and the familiar 'Theoi Adelphoi' issue bearing the jugate busts of Ptolemy I and Berenice I paired with Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II. The mint for the coins of Ptolemy V with this monogram is uncertain, with the published suggestions of Cyprus, Alexandria, Cyrene and Phoenicia covering virtually the entire Ptolemaic landscape. The prospect that the monogram represents the name of Skopas, the Aetolian general in charge of the Ptolemaic army in Coele Syria during operations against Antiochus III, does not seem to have been widely accepted. This particular type is imbued with religious symbolism, on par with the familiar octadrachms his father, Ptolemy IV, had issued in honour of his own father, Ptolemy III. The young regent wears the crown of Helios, and the cornucopiae on the reverse is capped with solar rays. Richard Hazard has suggested that the stars flanking the cornucopia attest to the divinity of Ptolemy V by representing two comets, one that appeared at the time of his birth and the other when he assumed the throne.
Octodrachm, uncertain mint circa 205-180, AV 27.77 g. Draped bust of Ptolemy V r., wearing radiate diadem and chlamys; spear over l. shoulder. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ? ΠTOΛEMAIOY Radiate cornucopiae bound with royal diadem and surmounted by radiate crown; at either side, star. In lower l. field, monogram. Svoronos 1527 and pl. 41, 18 (these dies). Hunterian III pl. 83, 11.
Extremely rare. A fantastic portrait of excellent Hellenistic style struck in high relief,
minor nicks on cheek and on edge, otherwise extremely fine / good extremely fine
Ex Hess-Leu sale 7 April 1960, 266. From a Distinguished Swiss Collection.
The reign of Ptolemy V is perhaps best known for the Rosetta stone, which was inscribed to document his Egyptian coronation some eight years after he had assumed the throne of government as a boy. However, his reign also offers much for the numismatic record with a wealth of coin types. Of special interest is the diversity of portrait coins struck by Ptolemy V. Otto Morkholm described just one of his series as "a welcome oasis in the vast desert of portraits of Ptolemy I, reproduced again and again with ever-increasing dullness". After his reign there is a noticeable decline in the variety, quality and artistic merit of Ptolemaic coinage. The gold octadrachms of Ptolemy V are of extraordinary interest since, at the very least, they include issues with his own portrait (with and without a spear over his shoulder) as well as issues portraying his father Ptolemy IV, his mother Arsinoe III, his grandfather Ptolemy III, his great-grandmother Arsinoe II, and the familiar 'Theoi Adelphoi' issue bearing the jugate busts of Ptolemy I and Berenice I paired with Ptolemy II and Arsinoe II. The mint for the coins of Ptolemy V with this monogram is uncertain, with the published suggestions of Cyprus, Alexandria, Cyrene and Phoenicia covering virtually the entire Ptolemaic landscape. The prospect that the monogram represents the name of Skopas, the Aetolian general in charge of the Ptolemaic army in Coele Syria during operations against Antiochus III, does not seem to have been widely accepted. This particular type is imbued with religious symbolism, on par with the familiar octadrachms his father, Ptolemy IV, had issued in honour of his own father, Ptolemy III. The young regent wears the crown of Helios, and the cornucopiae on the reverse is capped with solar rays. Richard Hazard has suggested that the stars flanking the cornucopia attest to the divinity of Ptolemy V by representing two comets, one that appeared at the time of his birth and the other when he assumed the throne.