55 / 184
1146
Ptolemaic Kingdom. Ptolemy I Soter. Silver Tetradrachm (15.52 g), as King, 305-282 BC. Alexandria, in the
name of Alexander III, ca. 303 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing elephant’s skin
headdress. Rev.
ALEXANDROU
, Athena Alkidemos advancing right, brandishing javelin and holding forth
shield; in right field, Corinhian helmet, I
S
monogram, and eagle standing right on thunderbolt. (Svoronos
165; Zervos issue 27, obv. die 392; SNG Copenhagen -; Weber 8227 (same obv. die)). Faint graffito (?)
before Athena’s head on reverse. Nicely toned. Extremely fine.
$ 2,000
1147
Ptolemaic Kingdom. Cleopatra III and Ptolemy IX Soter II (Lathyros). Silver Tetradrachm (14.03 g), 116-
107 BC. Paphos, RY 1 (116/5 BC). Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis. Rev.
BASILEWS
PTOLEMAIOU
, eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; in left field, date (L A); in right field,
P
(A. Svoronos 1659; SNG Copenhagen 347 (Alexandreia)). Lightly toned and excellent metal. Extremely
fine.
$ 700
1148
Uncertain Emperor. PB Tessera (4.68 g), 2
nd
-3
rd
centuries AD. Antinoöpolis in Egypt, RY 2 of an uncertain
emperor. Confronted busts of Antinous, on left, and Isis, on right; across field, date (L B). Rev. Nilus
reclining left on back of hippopotamus, holding reeds and cornucopiae. (Rostovtsev & Prou 665-6; Milne
-; Dattari (Savio) -).
Rare.
Excellent for type and metal. Choice very fine.
$ 750
1149
Zeugitania, Carthage. Silver Shekel (7.74 g), ca. 300 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit left. Rev. Horse standing
right before palm tree, head turned to look back; in right field, star. (Jenkins & Lewis pl. 26, 15-7; cf. MAA
36; SNG Copenhagen 141). Extremely fine.
$ 1,000
While the head on the obverse of this coin represents the native Punic deity, Tanit, its style is influenced by exposure to the
Persephone types struck by Syracuse during the many conflicts between the Greek and Punic peoples for possession of Sicily in the
fifth and fourth centuries BC. The horse reverse may refer to the foundation myth of Carthage in which the head of a horse was
found on the hill where the city was to be built. This discovery was said to be an omen that Carthage would be powerful in war. The
palm tree behind alluded to the Phoenician origin of the Punic Carthaginians since the Greek word for palm tree and the source of
the regional name Phoenicia was
phoinix
.
1147
1148