| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 376 Price realized: 45,000 USD (Approx. 41,216 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 Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AR Dekadrachm (34.5mm, 35.62 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 261/0-253/2 BC. Head right, with ram's horn, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter in background, AA to left / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia with grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE 343 (Ptolemy II); Svoronos 937; Troxell, Arsinoe, Group 3, p. 43 and pl. 6, 5 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen –; Pozzi 3228 (this coin). Lovely old iridescent tone, a few minor scratches under tone, a couple of tiny nicks on obverse, trace deposits on reverse. Good VF. Very rare, ten examples noted by Troxell, and two additional in CoinArchives. Ex Prof. S. Pozzi Collection (Naville I, 14 March 1921), lot 3228. Arsinoe II, daughter of Ptolemy I and Berenike I, was born in 316 BC. Her early life saw her married off to Lysimachos of Thrace at the age of 15 and then to her half-brother, the brutal Ptolemy Keraunos. She conspired against the latter and was forced to flee circa 280 BC to the protection of Egypt, ruled by her younger full brother, Ptolemy II. Her beauty, charm and intelligence utterly captivated Ptolemy, and, after eliminating his previous wife with an accusation of treason, Arsinoe married her brother, probably about 276 BC. Sibling marriage was traditional among Egyptian royalty but among the Greeks it was known only among deities; thus their union advanced the concept of rulers being worshipped as divinities. Though unscrupulous, Arsinoe proved a capable queen and co-ruler, taking charge of Egypt's foreign affairs. Her death in 270 or 268 BC was marked by her full deification and a huge outpouring of gold and silver coinage bearing her veiled portrait. The ram's horn just visible emerging from the veil is a further symbol of her deification, reminiscent of the horn of Ammon on images of the deified Alexander. Estimate: 20000 USD |  |
