| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 237 | Silver | Auction date: 27 October 2024 |
| Lot number: 103 Price realized: 140 EUR (Approx. 151 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. Alexandreia. Ptolemy IV Philopator 222-205 BC. Drachm Æ 34 mm, 33,25 g Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; filleted cornucopia to left, ΛI between legs. Very Fine Svoronos 1126; SNG Copenhagen 199-200. Ptolemy IV Philopator, who ruled Egypt from 221 BC to 205 BC, was the fourth king of the Ptolemaic dynasty. His reign marked the beginning of the decline of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, despite an initial military success that temporarily secured his position. Ptolemy IV inherited the throne from his father, Ptolemy III Euergetes, at a time when the Ptolemaic Kingdom was still a powerful state in the eastern Mediterranean. However, unlike his predecessors, Ptolemy IV was known more for his indulgent and decadent lifestyle than for strong leadership. His epithet "Philopator," meaning "Lover of his Father," was intended to emphasize his loyalty to his father's legacy, but his reign was marked by internal strife and weakening central authority. The most notable event of Ptolemy IV's reign was the Fourth Syrian War against the Seleucid Empire, led by Antiochos III the Great. Despite his personal disinterest in military affairs, Ptolemy IV's forces achieved a significant victory at the Battle of Raphia in 217 BC. This battle, one of the largest of the Hellenistic period, took place near modern-day Gaza and secured Egypt's control over Coele-Syria for a time. Ptolemy IV's army, which included a large contingent of native Egyptian soldiers, managed to defeat the Seleucid forces, reaffirming Ptolemaic dominance in the region. However, the reliance on native Egyptian troops during the Battle of Raphia had unforeseen consequences. Their increased military involvement and exposure to Greek military practices fostered a growing sense of Egyptian nationalism, which eventually contributed to internal unrest and rebellion against Ptolemaic rule. Ptolemy IV's reign was also marked by corruption and the growing influence of court favorites and powerful officials, such as his wife and sister Arsinoe III and the minister Sosibius. These figures effectively controlled the administration, leading to the weakening of royal authority and the neglect of crucial state affairs. Following Ptolemy IV's death in 204 BC, possibly under mysterious circumstances, his son Ptolemy V Epiphanes, who was only a child at the time, ascended to the throne. The power vacuum and instability that followed Ptolemy IV's death further contributed to the decline of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, as internal factions vied for control and external powers began to exploit the kingdom's weakened state. Overall, Ptolemy IV Philopator's reign is often seen as a turning point in Ptolemaic history, where the kingdom's earlier strength and prosperity began to wane, setting the stage for the eventual decline of the dynasty. Starting price: 50 EUR |  |
