Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIIAuction date: 14 January 2025
Lot number: 398

Price realized: 22,500 USD   (Approx. 22,068 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' (28mm, 27.73 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 1/5, 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 dies). In NGC encapsulation 3819009-005, graded Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 4/5.

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 1:
Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIIAuction date: 14 January 2025
Lot number: 399

Price realized: 14,000 USD   (Approx. 13,731 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' (28mm, 27.80 g, 12h). 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, Θ to left / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE 388; Svoronos 460; Olivier & Lorber dies 1/25, 127 (this coin); SNG Copenhagen 134; Noeske 39; Hirsch 1808; Jameson 1811; Pozzi 3221–2 (all from same obv. die). Underlying luster, minor marks and scuffs. Near EF.


Estimate: 7500 USD

Match 2:
Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIIAuction date: 14 January 2025
Lot number: 397

Price realized: 12,000 USD   (Approx. 11,770 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AR Dekadrachm (35.5mm, 34.72 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 253/2-250/49 BC. Head right, with ram's horn, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter in background, OO to left / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia with grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE 357 (Ptolemy II); Svoronos 950; Troxell, Arsinoe, Group 3, p. 44; SNG Copenhagen –; Meydancikkale 4006 (same obv. die). Toned, areas of roughness and porosity, some cleaning scratches and edge marks, graffito in field on reverse. Good VF. Very rare with these letters on obverse, none in PTO, nor CoinArchives.


Estimate: 10000 USD

Match 3:
Oslo Myntgalleri AS > Auction 39Auction date: 23 November 2024
Lot number: 1250

Price realized: 110,000 NOK   (Approx. 9,952 USD / 9,469 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" (27,63 g; 28 mm). Alexandreia mint, struck under Ptolemy II, circa 254-252 BC. Veiled head right, wearing stephanos; lotus-tipped scepter in background, Θ in left field / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia with grape bunches hanging at each side and bound with fillet. Very minor graffiti on reverse. An attractive specimen with traces of luster around devices., Svoronos 460, CPE 388, SNG Copenhagen 134, Grade: 01, Purchased from Numismatica Ars Classica

Starting price: 80000 NOK

Match 4:
Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIIAuction date: 14 January 2025
Lot number: 400

Price realized: 27,500 USD   (Approx. 26,972 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' (27.5mm, 27.75 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 5, 3504–6 (obv. die D41); Svoronos 1499β; SNG Copenhagen 322; BMC 45; Boston MFA 2298; Hermitage Sale II 1577–8; Pozzi 3247. Minor die break on obverse, edge scuffs and marks. EF.

Purchased by the consignor from Joel L. Malter.


Estimate: 7500 USD

Match 5:
Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 127Auction date: 17 September 2024
Lot number: 283

Price realized: 7,750 USD   (Approx. 6,966 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. 305/4-282 BC. AV Trichryson – 'Pentadrachm' (22mm, 17.71 g, 12h). Alexandreia mint. Struck circa 294-282 BC. Diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck, small Δ behind ear / BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left on thunderbolt; monogram to left. CPE 152; Svoronos 208; SNG Copenhagen –. Scattered tiny marks, a few light scratches and graffito on reverse. VF.


Estimate: 7500 USD