Ptolemy IV Bronze Coin

[Al Kowsky]

Yesterday my final coin purchase of the year arrived ☺️. I won the coin from the Heritage auction #63188, on 9-14-2022. The coin was described as a drachm, however, I'm pretty sure it's a tetrobol. The Ptolemaic bronze coins of Ptolemy IV were made in six different denominations, from drachm to dichalkon, the tetrobol was the second largest size with an average weight of 45 grams.

                

PTOLEMAIC - EGYPT. Ptolemy IV Philopator, 222-204 BC. Alexandria Mint. AE Tetrobol: 50.84 gm, 40.65 mm, 12 h. Obverse: Head of Zeus Amon facing right. Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt with wings spread. Inscription translating "King Ptolemy". 

Most of these thick, heavy bronze coins were engraved in low relief because it was difficult to strike a high relief image. This coin has most of the design elements visible & the patina is very attractive. I see no evidence of tooling or smoothing. I was happy with the final auction price of $204.00, including the buyers premium. Lately nice looking tetrobols have been selling for very high prices. Pictured below a few examples.

This example is up for auction at CNG Feature Auction 121, & already has a pre-bid of $450.00.

This example recently sold at Heritage Auction #61288, for $432.00. This coin was previously sold at CNG 52, on 11-6-2002.

This example sold at Roma E-Sale 98, for $813.00 😮!

NVMIS FORVMS members are welcome to post their examples of Ptolemaic tetobols ☺️.

 

[kirispupis]

Very nice! I've been tempted to pick up a Ptolemy IV drachm for some time, but I keep finding too many other fun coins to buy. 🙂 In order to spend less money, I made a rule for myself that I have to buy the lagid coins in order. I have a similar rule for Seleukid coins. So, I have tets from Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II, the below coin from Ptolemy III, and next up is a drachm from Ptolemy IV - since as I understand the largest drachms were issued during his reign.

I do have this tri-hemi-obol (ok - not a tetrobol) from Ptolemy III.

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Ptolemy III Euergetes
AE Trihemiobol
246-222 BCE
29.18mm 16.90g
Obverse: Diademed Head of Zeus Ammon right
Reverse: Basileus Ptolemaios, statue of Aphrodite standing facing on base
CPE B447; Svoronos 1005; SNG Copenhagen 644 Paphos mint
Ex Herb Klug
Ex Marc Breitsprecher

[Al Kowsky]

34 minutes ago, kirispupis said:

Very nice! I've been tempted to pick up a Ptolemy IV drachm for some time, but I keep finding too many other fun coins to buy. 🙂 In order to spend less money, I made a rule for myself that I have to buy the lagid coins in order. I have a similar rule for Seleukid coins. So, I have tets from Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II, the below coin from Ptolemy III, and next up is a drachm from Ptolemy IV - since as I understand the largest drachms were issued during his reign.

I do have this tri-hemi-obol (ok - not a tetrobol) from Ptolemy III.

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Ptolemy III Euergetes
AE Trihemiobol
246-222 BCE
29.18mm 16.90g
Obverse: Diademed Head of Zeus Ammon right
Reverse: Basileus Ptolemaios, statue of Aphrodite standing facing on base
CPE B447; Svoronos 1005; SNG Copenhagen 644 Paphos mint
Ex Herb Klug
Ex Marc Breitsprecher

kiris., That's a very attractive bronze with excellent die work on both sides ☺️! The almost invisible center punch mark on the obverse is a big plus for your coin 😉. I was lucky too, the mark is hard to see on my coin too.

[Edessa]

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Ptolemy III Euergetes. 246-222 BC. Æ Tetrobol (40mm, 44.98g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Series 4A. Obv: Horned head of Zeus-Ammon right, wearing taenia with basileion over forehead, dotted border. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ; Eagle with wings closed standing left, head right, on thunderbolt; cornucopia over shoulder, Λ between legs. Ref: CPE B359; Svoronos 1166; SNG Copenhagen 220–1. 

[Al Kowsky]

12 hours ago, Edessa said:

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Ptolemy III Euergetes. 246-222 BC. Æ Tetrobol (40mm, 44.98g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Series 4A. Obv: Horned head of Zeus-Ammon right, wearing taenia with basileion over forehead, dotted border. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ; Eagle with wings closed standing left, head right, on thunderbolt; cornucopia over shoulder, Λ between legs. Ref: CPE B359; Svoronos 1166; SNG Copenhagen 220–1. 

Edessa, Thanks for posting this handsome coin with a beautifully engraved portrait ☺️. Please explain what appears to be a drilled hole next to the lathe pin-centering mark 🤔. 

[Marsyas Mike]

Very handsome hockey puck, @Al Kowsky.  Just last week I got one from Ptolemy IV, but not as massive as yours.  I think this is a hemiobol (33 grams) from the "Alexander Cornucopia Series 5" (per http://ptolemybronze.com/ptolemy_series.html ).  It is rough, but under $20 so I went for it:

Ptolemy IV Philopator     Æ 32 Alexandria Cornucopia Series 5 (221-204 B.C.) Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right / [ΠΤΟΛΕ]ΜΑΙΟΥ BΑΣ[ΙΛΕΩΣ], eagle, wings closed standing left on winged thunderbolt, cornucopiae left, ΔI (or ΛI ?) between legs. Svoronos 1127 (ΔI) / 1128 (ΛI). (33.00 grams / 32 x 30 mm) eBay Sep. 2022

It is a duplicate; sometimes I just can't help myself.  Here is my earlier, nicer one.  These come with either ΔI or ΛI between the eagle's legs but I am not entirely sure which one either of mine has: 

[JayAg47]

Also my latest purchase! Ptolemy IV, 70g, 42mm.

[Al Kowsky]

2 hours ago, Marsyas Mike said:

Very handsome hockey puck, @Al Kowsky.  Just last week I got one from Ptolemy IV, but not as massive as yours.  I think this is a hemiobol (33 grams) from the "Alexander Cornucopia Series 5" (per http://ptolemybronze.com/ptolemy_series.html ).  It is rough, but under $20 so I went for it:

Ptolemy IV Philopator     Æ 32 Alexandria Cornucopia Series 5 (221-204 B.C.) Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right / [ΠΤΟΛΕ]ΜΑΙΟΥ BΑΣ[ΙΛΕΩΣ], eagle, wings closed standing left on winged thunderbolt, cornucopiae left, ΔI (or ΛI ?) between legs. Svoronos 1127 (ΔI) / 1128 (ΛI). (33.00 grams / 32 x 30 mm) eBay Sep. 2022

It is a duplicate; sometimes I just can't help myself.  Here is my earlier, nicer one.  These come with either ΔI or ΛI between the eagle's legs but I am not entirely sure which one either of mine has: 

Mike, Nice score for $20 ☺️! In the past I've bought similar examples for that kind of money & sometimes even less. They do make excellent gifts for people who are ancient history buffs 😉.

[Al Kowsky]

1 hour ago, JayAg47 said:

Also my latest purchase! Ptolemy IV, 70g, 42mm.

Jay, That's a nice heavy-weight drachm with all natural surfaces that don't appeared to be tooled or smoothed ☺️. One way to get the ire of the "Old Lady" would be to drop that coin on the dinning room table 🤣. I've always admired the eagle design on the largest Ptolemaic bronze coins & their tetradrachms. It's obvious that the American sculptors Bela Lyon Pratt & Augustus St. Gaudens also admired that design too. Both of those artists used similar designs on the American $5 & $10 gold coins.

[kapphnwn]

Ptolemy IV ae Drachm Alexandria 218?-204 BC Obv Head of Zeus Ammon right Rv. Eagle standing left on thunderbolt wings folded. Lorber CPE B 508 Svoronos 992 66.80 grms 40 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This coin is part of Alexandria series 5 "Sigma E" group. This group appears to have a range of smaller denominations unlike the Series 5 Delta I Group

[Edessa]

7 hours ago, Al Kowsky said:

Edessa, Thanks for posting this handsome coin with a beautifully engraved portrait ☺️. Please explain what appears to be a drilled hole next to the lathe pin-centering mark 🤔. 

My best guess is that it is an air pocket in the flan. They started turning the flan just on top of the air pocket but had to move the centration device over when the pin broke through and the hole became too large. I can't say that I have seen another large Ptolemaic flan with this problem.

Or perhaps this was the Ptolemaic equivalent of our hollow wartime nickels that you could open and hide secret messages in. If so, the plug is long lost!

[Al Kowsky]

4 hours ago, kapphnwn said:

Ptolemy IV ae Drachm Alexandria 218?-204 BC Obv Head of Zeus Ammon right Rv. Eagle standing left on thunderbolt wings folded. Lorber CPE B 508 Svoronos 992 66.80 grms 40 mm Photo by W. Hansen

This coin is part of Alexandria series 5 "Sigma E" group. This group appears to have a range of smaller denominations unlike the Series 5 Delta I Group

That's a magnificent bronze, they don't get any better. Thanks for posting ☺️.

[NewStyleKing]

40mm  74gm  Chi-Ro between eagles legs . Chi Ro apparently meant  good  or some such thing, in Jewish times supposed to mean Messiah, other times Chresto  meaning the good  as in Socrates Chresto who usurped the Bityhnian throne of Nicomedes lV  ( so maybe Socrates the not so Chresto) Maybe Messiah/Chresto means the same thing. Thus the good mint!  who knows! At least it aint celtic  and totally unknowable!

 

The coin cost £115 8 years ago off e bay