| Leu Numismatik AG > Web Auction 28 | Auction date: 9 December 2023 |
| Lot number: 214 Price realized: 12,050 CHF (Approx. 13,698 USD / 12,721 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II, died 270 BC. Mnaieion or Oktadrachm (Gold, 29 mm, 28.00 g, 12 h), Alexandria, struck under Ptolemy VI and/or VIII, circa 204-116. Veiled head of Arsinoe II to right, wearing stephane and ram's horn and with a lotus-tipped scepter over her left shoulder; behind, K. Rev. ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ - ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ Double cornucopiae bound with fillet and with two grape bunches hanging at sides. Boston MFA 2293. Gulbenkian 1080. SNG Copenhagen 321–2. Svoronos 1498–9. A magnificent, boldly struck example with a wonderful portrait. Very light marks, otherwise, good extremely fine. From the James Knox Collection of Biblical related coins, privately acquired from Calgary Coin Gallery on 25 June 2015 and ex Classical Numismatic Group Web Shop, inv. no. 728863. A minor detail of these impressive gold coins is the ram's horn, which is hinted at below Arsinoe's ear. It has been suggested that it refers to Arsinoe's association with the ram-god Mendes, as we find it on the Mendes-Stele, where Ptolemy II decrees that a statue of his deceased sister-wife would appear with that of the god in every Egyptian nome. However, the iconography of the Ptolemaic gold coinage was mainly targeting a Graeco-Macedonian audience, which argues for an identification of the ram's horn with that of Zeus Ammon, a reference to Alexander the Great, who had established Macedonian rule in Egypt. Starting price: 5000 CHF |  |
