| 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. | |
| 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 |  |
Match 1:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 126 | Auction date: 28 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 370 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | |
| Lot description: PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AR Dekadrachm (34.5mm, 35.13 g, 11h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 270-261/0 BC. Head right, with ram's horn, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter in background / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia with grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE 320 (Ptolemy II); Svoronos 409; Troxell, Arsinoe, Group 3, p. 41 and pl. 2, 1 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen –. Lightly toned, traces of find patina, spots of porosity and roughness, some marks. Near EF. From the very rare first issue of Arsinoe dekadrachms, the sole unmarked issue in the series. 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 between 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: 10000 USD |  |
Match 2:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 377 Price realized: 17,000 USD (Approx. 15,570 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AV Mnaieion – 'Oktadrachm' (29mm, 27.78 g, 11h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 252/1-250/49 BC. Head right with ram's horn, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter in background, K to left / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE 390; Svoronos 475; Olivier & Lorber dies 1/16, 233 (this coin); Troxell, Arsinoe, Group 3, p. 44 and pl. 7, 3 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen –; Adams –; Boston MFA 2268 (same obv. die); BMC 10 (same dies); Pozzi 3223 (same obv. die). Lustrous. Near EF. From the Father & Son Collection. Ex Weise Collection (Triton XXIII, 14 January 2020), lot 524, purchased from CNG, 16 September 2000; Victor Adda Collection (Leu 77, 11 May 2000), lot 383. Estimate: 10000 USD |  |
Match 3:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 379 Price realized: 11,000 USD (Approx. 10,075 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AV Mnaïeion – 'Oktadrachm' (29mm, 27.67 g, 11h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy VI or Ptolemy VIII, circa 180-145 or 145-116 BC. Head right with ram's horn, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter in background, K to left / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. Olivier Group 7, 3463–70 (obv. die D39); Svoronos 1499β (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 322; BMC 45; Boston MFA 2298; Hermitage Sale II 1577–8; Pozzi 3247. Slight wave in flan, minor scratches, edge bump. Good VF. Ex Freeman & Sear inventory G8875 (ND; incorrectly as Svoronos 475). Estimate: 7500 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 561 | Auction date: 1 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 293 Price realized: 325 USD (Approx. 304 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. 305/4-282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 13.13 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 294-282 BC. Diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck; tiny Δ behind ear / Eagle, with closed wings, standing left on thunderbolt; to left, P above monogram. CPE 132; Svoronos 252; SNG Copenhagen 69. Horn silver, scratches, graffiti on reverse. VF. Estimate: 150 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 551 | Auction date: 29 November 2023 |
| Lot number: 149 Price realized: 400 USD (Approx. 366 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. 305/4-282 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28.5mm, 14.01 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 300-282 BC. Diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck, tiny Δ behind ear / Eagle, with closed wings, standing left on thunderbolt; to left, P above monogram. CPE 141b; Svoronos 231; SNG Copenhagen 49. Scratches, bankers' marks on obverse. VF. From the Dr. Gary M. Duckett Collection. Estimate: 150 USD |  |
