Egypt

Herodotus relates (iv. 166) that Aryandes, who had been appointed
satrap of Egypt by Cambyses, mortally offended Darius, son of
Hystaspes, by issuing silver money which rivaled in purity the gold
darics of the great king himself. If the story be true, it probably
refers to ordinary Persian sigloi. No coins have come down to us
which can be identified as those of Aryandes. Besides, there is positive
evidence to suggest that throughout the period of Persian dominion
coined money as such was not current in Egypt at all. Silver was
a common medium of exchange; but, when it passed from hand to
hand, its precise value was always determined by weighing. As Dressel
has pointed out (Z. f. N., xxii, pp. 231 ff.), there is no other satisfactory
explanation of phenomena like the so-called ‘silversmith’s hoard’ from
Naucratis, a find which contained fifteen archaic silver coins of various
Greek cities together with 42 oz. of roughly cast and cut up lumps
of silver (Num. Chron., 1886, p. 4; cf. for other instances ibid., 1890,
pp. 1 ff., and 1899, pp. 269 ff.). The institution of a regular coinage
dates from the reign of Alexander the Great, some of whose AV staters
and AR tetradrachms are undoubtedly of Egyptian origin. The monarchy
that followed the empire of Alexander lasted until Egypt was absorbed
by Rome. Consequently civic issues are not to be looked for. The
only known example (Æ) must owe its existence to quite exceptional
circumstances:—


Naucratis. The style is that of the fourth century B.C. The two or
three extant specimens have all been found on the site of the famous
Greek emporium.




Female head r., wreathed; beneath,
ΝΑΥ. [NC 1886, Pl. I. 9; 1902,
Pl. XVII. 10.]
Beardless head r., wreathed; short,
flying hair; beneath, ΑΛΕ. Æ .6

i. Greek Kings of Egypt (Ptolemaic Kingdom) Ptolemaic| |Kingdom |Coins for |Sale in the |Forum |Ancient |Coins |Shop
References
Brett, A. "Dated coins of Ptolemy V, 204 - 180 B.C." in ANSMN 2 (1947), pp. 1 - 11.
Brooks, E. "The overstruck coinage of Ptolemy I" in ANSMN 6 (1954), pp. 69 - 84.
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (1992 - ).
Cox, D. Coins from the Excavations at Curium, 1932-1953. ANSNNM 145. (New York, 1959).
Faucher, T., A. Meadows & C. Lorber. Egyptian Hoards I, The Ptolemies. (Le Claire, France, 2017).
Faucher, T. & C. Lorber. "Bronze Coinage of Ptolemaic Egypt in the Second Century BC" in AJN 22 (2010), pp. 35-84.
Gitler, H & C. Lorber. "A New Chronology for the Ptolemaic Coins of Judah" in AJN 18 (2006).
Hazzard, R. Ptolemaic Coins: An Introduction for Collectors. (Toronto, 1995).
Hazzard, R. & I. Brown. "The Silver Standard of the Ptolemaic Coinage" in Review Numismatique 26 (1984), pp. 231 - 239.
Hendin, D. Guide to Biblical Coins, 5th Edition. (Amphora, 2010).
Hill, G. A Catalog| of the |Greek |Coins in the |British |Museum, |Greek |Coins of |Cyprus. (London, 1904).
Hill, G. Catalogue| of |Greek |Coins in the |British |Museum: |Phoenicia. (London, 1910).
Jenkins, G. "An early Ptolemaic hard from Phacous" in ANSMN 9 (1960), pp. 17 - 37.
Kreuzer, M. The Coinage System of Cleopatra VII, Marc Antony and Augustus in Cyprus. (Springfield, MA, 2004).
Lorber, C. Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire. (New York, 2018).
Lorber, C. "The Lotus of Aphrodite on Ptolemaic Bronzes" in SNR 80 (2001).
Ma|c|donald, G. Catalogue| of Greek| Coins| in the |Hunterian |Collection, vol. III. (Glasgow, 1899).
Malter, J. The Coinage of Ancient Egypt, Auction II, February 23 and 24, 1978. (Encino, CA, 1978).
Meshorer, Y. A Treasury of Jewish Coins from the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. (Jerusalem, 2001).
Michaelidou, L, ed. Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage, Coin Catalogue. (Nicosia, 1996).
Michaelidou, L. and E. Zapiti. Coins of Cyprus, From the Collection of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation. (Nicosia, 2008).
Mildenberg, L. "Yehud: A Preliminary Study of the Provincial Coinage of Judaea" in Essays Thompson.
Mørkholm, O. "Cyprus Hoard, 1982" in NC 147 (1987), pp. 156 - 158.
Mørkholm, O. Early Hellenistic Coinage. From the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamea (336-188 BC). (Cambridge, 1991).
Mørkholm, O. "Ptolemaic coins and chronology: The dated silver coinage of Alexandria" in MN 20 (1975), pp. 7–24.
Mørkholm, O. "The Ptolemaic 'coins of an uncertain era'" in Nordisk Numismatisk Arskrift 1975 - 1976, pp. 23 - 58.
Mørkholm, O. “The last Ptolemaic silver coinage in Cyprus” in Chiron 13 (1983), pp. 69–79.
Nicolaou, I. Paphos II. The Coins from the House of Dionysos. Department of Antiquities Cyprus. (Nicosia, 1990).
Noeske, H-C. Die Münzen der Ptolemäer. (Frankfurt, 2000).
Olivier, J. & C. Lorber. “Three gold coinages of third-century Ptolemaic Egypt” in RBN CLIX (2013).
Pitchfork, C. The Jon Hosking Collection of Ptolemaic Coins. Nicholson Museum, University of Sydney. (Sydney, 2000).
Poole, R. A Catalog| of the |Greek |Coins in the |British |Museum, the |Ptolemies, Kings of |Egypt. (London, 1882).
Price, M. The Coinage of in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus. (London, 1991).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 2, Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
Robinson, E. A |Catalog of the |Greek Coins| in the |British |Museum, The |Greek |Coins of |Cyrenaica. (London, 1927).
Svoronos, J. Ta Nomismata tou Kratous ton Ptolemaion. (Athens, 1904-08).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Volume 8: Egypt, North Africa, Spain - Gaul. (New Jersey, 1994).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Italy, Milano XIII, Civiche Coltrane Numismatiche, Aegyptus, Part 1: Ptolemaei. (Milan, 1989).
Weiser, W. Katalog Ptolemäischer Bronzemünzen der Sammlung des Instituts für Altertumskunde, Universität Köln. (Opladen, 1995).
Visona, P. "A Hoard of Ptolemaic| Bronze| Coins| in the the J. Paul Getty Museum" in J. Paul Getty Museum Journal 6 - 7 (1978 - 1979), pp. 153 - 162.
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Wolf, D. & C. Lorber. "The 'Galatian Shield without [monogram]' Series of Ptolemaic Bronze Coins" in NC 171 (2011).
Zervos, O. "The early tetradrachms of Ptolemy I" in ANSMN 13 (1967), pp. 1 - 16.LinksBMC Ptolemies Online - http://snible.org/coins/bmc/#ptolemies
The PtolemAE Project - http://ptolemybronze.com/
Reigns of the Ptolemaic Dynasty
Dates in brackets represent the regnal dates of the Ptolemaic pharaohs. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were often also their sisters. Several queens exercised regal authority. Of these, one of the last and most famous was Cleopatra ("Cleopatra VII Philopator", 51–30 BC), with her two brothers and her son serving as successive nominal co-rulers. Several systems exist for numbering the later rulers; the one used here is the one most widely used by modern scholars.

- Ptolemy I Soter (303–282 BC) married first Thaïs, then Artakama, then Eurydice, and finally Berenice I.
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 BC) married Arsinoe I, then Arsinoe II; ruled jointly with Ptolemy Epigonos (267–259 BC).
- Ptolemy III Euergetes (246–221 BC) married Berenice II.
- Ptolemy IV Philopator (221–203 BC) married Arsinoe III.
- Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203–181 BC) married Cleopatra I Syra.
- Ptolemy VI Philometor (181–164 BC, 163–145 BC) married Cleopatra II, briefly ruled jointly with Ptolemy Eupator in 152 BC.
- Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator (never reigned).
- Ptolemy VIII Physcon (170–163 BC, 145–116 BC) married Cleopatra II, then Cleopatra III; temporarily expelled by Cleopatra II (131-127 BC), then reconciled with her (124 BC).
- Cleopatra II Philometora Soteira (131–127 BC), in opposition to Ptolemy VIII Physcon.
- Cleopatra III Philometor Soteira Dikaiosyne Nikephoros (Kokke) (116–101 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy IX Lathyros (116–107 BC) and Ptolemy X Alexander I (107–101 BC).
- Ptolemy IX Lathyros (116–107 BC, 88–81 BC as Soter II) married Cleopatra IV, then Cleopatra Selene; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III in his first reign.
- Ptolemy X Alexander I (107–88 BC) married Cleopatra Selene, then Berenice III; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III till 101 BC.
- Berenice III Philopator (81–80 BC).
- Ptolemy XI Alexander II (80 BC) married and ruled jointly with Berenice III before murdering her; ruled alone for 19 days after that.
- Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (Auletes) (80–58 BC, 55–51 BC) married Cleopatra V Tryphaena.
- Cleopatra V Tryphaena (58–57 BC) ruled jointly with Berenice IV Epiphaneia (58–55 BC) and Cleopatra VI Tryphaena (58 BC).
- Cleopatra ("Cleopatra VII Philopator", 51–30 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (51–47 BC), Ptolemy XIV (47–44 BC) and Ptolemy XV Caesarion (44–30 BC).
- Arsinoe IV (48–47 BC), in opposition to Cleopatra.

Other notable members of the Ptolemaic dynasty

- Ptolemy Keraunos (died 279 BC) - eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter. Eventually became king of Macedonia.
- Ptolemy Apion (died 96 BC) - son of Ptolemy VIII Physcon. Made king of Cyrenaica. Bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome.
- Ptolemy Philadelphus (born 36 BC) - son of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
- Ptolemy of Mauretania (died 40 AD) - son of King Juba II of Numidia and Mauretania and Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. King of Mauretania.



The long series of the coins of the Ptolemies is generally admitted
to be the most difficult to classify in the whole range of Greek numismatics. In spite of the enormous number of issues, the types present
comparatively little variety. The inscriptions are mostly conventional
and, although dates are frequent, the era of reckoning is not always
certain. Again, while some mint-marks—notably those of Phoenician,
Palestinian, and Cyprian cities—are easily recognized, there are many
coins that bear either no mint-mark at all or one of doubtful significance.
Finally, our information as to finds is anything but adequate. This
last circumstance is much to be regretted. A knowledge of the manner
in which the coins are normally associated in hoards, and of the localities
whence particular varieties come, would be of immense service in
dealing with the problem of arrangement. As yet a final solution is
hardly within sight. The late Dr. R. S. Poole laid the foundations
of a scientific study of the subject, and his classification was for many
years universally accepted as trustworthy. The publication of the mass
of material brought together by Dr. J. N. Svoronos has shown that not
a few of Poole’s conclusions are untenable. Whether the alternative
attributions proposed by Svoronos are in all cases sound, is a question
regarding which there is room for considerable difference of opinion; cf.
Regling’s exhaustive criticism in Z. f. N., xxv. [1] But in any event his
book marks a most substantial advance, and it will necessarily form the
ground work of the brief outline which is all that can be given within
the limits of this manual.
1 Svoronos has reprinted this extremely useful article in Νομ. Πτολ., iv, pp. 455 ff.
We have seen that the oldest Egyptian coins were Attic staters and
tetradrachms having the name and types of Alexander. Modifications
were soon introduced, but the weight at first remained unaltered.
Presently, however, after a period of transition, during which Rhodian
tetradrachms and smaller AR make a fitful appearance, the Attic standard
was definitely superseded by the Phoenician. The change took place
shortly after B.C. 305. Probably it was not unconnected with the
difficulty that must have been experienced in combining the Attic with
the native Egyptian system, and particularly in adjusting the relations
between coins of gold and silver on the one hand and coins of copper on
the other. The papyri furnish striking testimony to the exceptional
position occupied by the last-named metal in Egypt. Down to the end
of the third century B.C. accounts are always stated on the basis of
a silver standard, the values being expressed in drachm, obols, and
chalkoi. From the reign of Ptolemy Epiphanes onwards the standard
of reckoning is a copper one, the unit of value being the δραχμη χαλκου,
which exchanged with the δραχμη αργυριου at rates varying from 350:1
to 500:1. Thus much is clear. But behind lie questions at once
intricate and obscure, for which see the luminous discussion by Grenfell
and his colleagues in Tebtunis Papyri, i, pp. 580-603, where it is shown that there is no ground for the common belief that the ratio of Æ to AR in
Ptolemaic Egypt was something like 120:1. A more correct approximation would be 30:1. Further, the Æ drachma was not of the same
weight as the AR drachma. Indeed, it is probable that the Æ drachma
was not a coin at all, but a mere unit of account. Sums stated in AE drachm in the papyri are practically always multiples of five, from
which it may be inferred that the smallest denomination struck was
a five drachms piece. [1] These conclusions conflict markedly with the
views previously in vogue among metrologists and subsequently reiterated by Hultsch and Svoronos, Nομ. Πτολ., vol. iv. Nevertheless
they seem to be required by the evidence. And, failing fresh light from
the papyri, it is hardly likely that we shall get much beyond them until
the careful observation of finds enables the chronological succession of
the coins to be more confidently determined; see J. G. Milne in Annals
of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1908, pp. 30 ff.

The ordinary method of dating is by regnal years. From c. B.C.
200 onwards the numeral is regularly preceded by the symbol L, which
is also of common occurrence in Ptolemaic papyri. This was formerly
supposed to be an Egyptian sign, perhaps of demotic origin, but it may
be no more than a fragmentary survival of the initial Ε of ΕΤΟVΣ
(J. H. S., 1902, pp. 149 ff). Apart from regnal years, Poole noted on
one group of coins a series of dates running beyond 100, and therefore
obviously calculated on a different principle (BMC Ptolemies, pp. lxxiv ff. and
101 ff.). Svoronos has made out a good case for believing that
Poole’s ‘uncertain era’ was reckoned from B.C. 311, when the death
of Alexander IV relieved Ptolemy from even nominal dependence on
a suzerain (Rev. Belge, 1901, pp. 413 ff.). His arguments for such an
‘era of Soter’, though in themselves not quite conclusive, receive strong
support from the circumstance that the dating of a Tyrian inscription
had already suggested a similar inference to Strack (Dyn. der Ptol.,
pp. 149 ff.). Less convincing is his assumption of another era commencing with the death or, rather, the deification of Arsinoë II in
B.C. 270 (Νομ. Πτολ., i, pp. ρμη-ρξβ, and iv, pp. 83-95). The grounds
of conjecture here are more slender, and the resulting arrangement of
coins has yet to be confirmed by other evidence. Still, the hypothesis
is ingenious. It accounts for some curious coincidences. And it has
therefore established a claim to at least provisional acceptance. The
same may perhaps be said of his theory of χρυσα δεκαετηριδων, according
to which certain AV pieces of a medallic character were issued in various
reigns in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the royal marriage.
They are chiefly octadrachms, and may be thus described; obv. Head of
queen, with Κ [= 10] behind; rev. ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ, Double cornucopias. Many of the Ptolemaic coins bear magistrates’ monograms
or initials. Surmises as to the actual names which these represent should
be received with great caution.



1 It is also significant that a πενταδραχμον νομισμα was the coin employed to set in
motion the automatic machines that supplied the devout with lustral water at the doors
of certain temples in Alexandreia (Heron, Πνευματικα, i. 21)Ptolemy I (Soter), B.C. 323-285, ruled Egypt until B.C. 311 as
the satrap Of Philip Aridaeus and of Alexander IV; thereafter, independently. Although the form of the inscription on the coins can no longer
be accepted as a guide to their classification, his assumption of the
title βασιλευς (B.C. 305) remains a convenient landmark.




FIG. 373.


Period I (B.C. 323-305). Ptolemy’s earliest money was struck in the
names of his successive suzerains, the types being those of Alexander the
Great. Before long, however,—perhaps on the death of Philip in B.C.
316—the familiar head of Herakles on the tetradrachms was replaced
by a head of Alexander the Great in elephant-skin (Fig. 373). The
normal weight is Attic, and the usual inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (Svoronos,
Nos. 18-24). A set of rare anonymous pieces (Svor., Nos. 25 f.), with
the same obv. but with rev. Prow (AV staters) or Eagle (AR ½ obols),
may have been issued when Alexander IV died (B.C. 311). If so,
anonymity did not suit the public taste, for ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ reappears
on a much larger group (Svoronos, Nos. 33-58) that must fall between B.C.
311 and 305. This contains AV with Alexandrine types (N. C., 1892,
Pl. II. 9) and also Æ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 4, 7). Its chief feature, however,
is AR distinguished by a novel rev. type and by the introduction of the
Rhodian standard:—




Head of Alexander the Great in elephant-skin. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 2.]
Archaistic figure of Athena Promachos, hurling fulmen; in field, eagle.
AR Attic Tetradrachms.

Id. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 3.]
Id. AR Rhodian Drachms. and ½ Drachms.



The transition to the next period is marked by a tetradrachm
of Rhodian weight with the types just described but with inscription
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (N. C., 1900, Pl. I. 15). Another, still of Attic weight,
reads ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΕΙΟΝ [1] (Svoronos, No. 32). Presumably
the whole of the foregoing were minted in Egypt. For AV issued in
Cyprus by Ptolemy’s brother Menelaus and by his son-in-law Eunostus
see supra, pp. 744 f. A series of Æ, probably Cyprian but slightly later
(Svoronos, Nos. 74-82), has: obv. Head of Aphrodite; rev. ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ,
Eagle on fulmen (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 9). In the Cyrenaïca, side by side
with autonomous AR, for which see infra, there were struck AV staters
and ½ staters (Svoronos, Nos. 59-64) with ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΩ
(or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ) ΚΥΡΑΝΑΙΟΝ, etc. (N. C., 1894, Pl. VIII. 5), and
also Æ with ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (Svoronos, Nos. 65-71).


1 That is, ‘coin of Alexander, struck by Ptolemy.’ Svoronos (i, p. νη, and iv, p. 11)
renders ‘coin of Alexandreia, struck by Ptolemy’, citing as analogies ΝΙΚΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ
ΠΑΦΙΟΝ and ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΩ (or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ) ΚΥΡΑΝΑΙΟΝ. But, in the
absence of any local coinage of Alexandreia, there is no warrant for departing from the
ordinary meaning of Αλεξανδρειον (Pollux, Onom., ix. 84), particularly when it gives an
excellent sense.

FIG. 374.


Period II (B.C. 305-285). The appearance of βασιλευς fixes the
date of an important group (Svoronos, Nos. 101-80), the various members
of which are proved by monograms, etc., to be intimately connected,
differences of inscription notwithstanding:—




Head of Ptolemy I, diademed and wearing aegis. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. II. 10 f.]
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Alexander, as son of
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ Ammon, in quadriga
of elephants. AV 110 grs. Phoenician. Stater.

Head of Alexander the Great in elephant-skin (Fig. 374).
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Archaistic figure of
Athena Promachos, hurling fulmen;
in field, eagle on fulmen.
AR Rhodian Tetradrachm.

Head of Alexander the Great, horned;
hair long. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. II. 1.]
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (sometimes with ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ) Eagle on fulmen. Æ .85-.7



The use of the Phoenician standard for the AV should be noted.
The weight of the AR tetradrachms possibly indicates that they were
intended for foreign commerce. The majority, however, were certainly
minted in Egypt itself; some of them have on the obv. a microscopic Δ,
probably an engraver’s signature, and this recurs frequently on the
larger denominations of what must be regarded as the true regal coinage
of Ptolemy I, struck in Egypt for Egyptian needs (Svoronos, Nos. 181-303).
The standard of the latter is Phoenician for AV and AR alike, and the
types in these metals are those generally adhered to afterwards down
to the Roman occupation:—




FIG. 375.




Head of Ptolemy I, diademed and wearing aegis (Fig. 375).
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle on
fulmen; in field, monogram.
AR Phonetician Tetradrachm.



The AV comprised pentadrachms and triobols, the eagle’s wings on the
latter being open (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. III. 5), while the AR included not only
tetradrachms, but also octadrachms (Z. f. N., xxi. Pl. VI. 8). The contemporary Æ had: obv. Head of Soter, of Zeus, or of Alexander;
rev. Ptolemaic eagle (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. III. 3 f., 6 f.). The Cyrenaïca during
this period produced AV, AR, and Æ with obv. Head of Soter (Svoronos,
Nos. 304-13 and 322-31), as well as AR and Æ with obv. Head of
Berenice I (Svoronos, Nos. 316-21). Some bear the monogram of the
governor Magas, son of Berenice and stepson of Soter (Hunter Cat., iii,
Pl. LXXXI. 1; BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIII. 7 f.).


Ptolemy II (Philadelphus), B.C. 285-246, is said by Appian (Praef. x)
to have been και πορισαι δεινοτατος βασιλεων και δαπανησαι λαμπροτατος
και κατασκευοσαι μεγαλουργοτατος, a description aptly illustrated by the
profusion and almost barbaric magnificence of his coinage. He became
king two years before his father’s death, Soter having voluntarily
abdicated in order to ensure that he should be succeeded by the son
of his choice rather than by the impetuous Keraunos. At first the
types remained unaltered (Svoronos, Nos. 338-87). Indeed, it is doubtful
whether the pieces struck by father and son respectively can now be
distinguished (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 353), although Svoronos assigns all the
AV triobols and AR octadrachms to Soter, while crediting Philadelphus
with the introduction of the AR drachm (Rev. Eagle with open wings) and
also with certain innovations in the Æ, notably the adoption of the head
of Arsinoë II as an obv. type (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIII. 10). [1] He believes that
this coinage lasted till B.C. 271, the only other contemporary issue being
a set of AR tetradrachms (Svoronos, Nos. 388-407) with the usual types but
with inscription ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. X. 3 f., and XIV. 8).
1 It is in this period that we first find the central hole which is so characteristic a feature
of Ptolemaic Æ coins.



The deification of Arsinoë II, on her death in B.C. 270, was a master-stroke of financial policy (Strack, Rhein. Mus., 1900, pp. 164 ff.).
Involving as it did the diversion into the royal treasury of a rich stream
of temple dues, it seems to have led to a complete reorganization of the
coinage (Svoronos, Nos. 408-519):—




Head of Arsinoë II, veiled and wearing
stephane. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 4.]
ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ Double cornucopia, filleted. AV Octadrachm.

Id. [Ward Coll., Pl. XXII. 888.]
Id. AR Decadrachm.

Id. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 3.]
ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ Eagle on
fulmen. AR Tetradrachm.

Head of Ptolemy I, diademed and wearing aegis. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. X. 5.]
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ Id.
AR Tetradrachm.



The weight is Phoenician. On nearly all there appears behind the
head a numeral letter or letters, interpreted by Svoronos as dates
reckoned from the ‘Era of Arsinoë’ (see supra, p. 847). Corresponding
letters occur on the rev. of eight denominations of associated Æ, some of
which are of exceptional size and weight: obv. Head of Ammon, or of
Alexander; rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle, or Two eagles,
on fulmen (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. V. 7-9, VI. 4, X. 2, 6 f.). A few AV octadrachms with types and inscription as above, but with no numeral letter, bear
mint-marks of Cyprian cities (Svoronos, Nos. 520-3).
Other series (Svoronos, Nos. 524-602), some of which may be Cyprian, show beside the Ptolemaic eagle on the rev., either singly or in combination, the monogram and a shield blazoned with a fulmen; inscribed
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ. The denominations most usually met
with are AV pentadrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IV. 2) and AR tetradrachms
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IV. 1, VI. 3, IX. 1 f., etc.); but there are also AR drachms as
well as Æ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IV. 3, and IX. 3). Many specimens have
numeral letters, which are probably regnal dates. The fact that the
engraver Δ is still occasionally active confirms the attribution to
Ptolemy II, particularly when taken in conjunction with the shield, for
this symbol is found on a remarkable series (Svoronos, Nos. 603-25) which
can hardly belong to any one else:—




FIG. 376.




ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ Heads of Ptolemy II and
Arsinoë II, jugate; behind, shield
blazoned with fulmen (Fig. 376.)
ΘΕΩΝ Heads of Ptolemy I and Berenice I, jugate. AV Octadrachm.



The inscription. refers to the cult of Soter and his consort as θεοι αδελφοι.
There are similar pieces of later style (cf. BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VII), which must
have been struck by subsequent kings. Besides AV octadrachms, the series
contained AV tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VII. 1 and 3), didrachms, and
drachms, as well as AR didrachms and ½ drachms—all very much alike,
except that the ½ drachm had no inscription. (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXI. 17).
The AR tetradrachms, which are very rare, were of the ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ
ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ class, while the types of the Æ were ordinary (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. IV. 4, 6). Sporadic letters are taken by Svoronos to be dates of the
‘Arsinoë era’, and the whole of the ΘΕΩΝ ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ coins are believed
by him to have been minted in the Cyrenaïca (Νομ. Πτολ., i, p. ση, and
iv, p. 133). This is quite doubtful. On the other hand, a group of AE
(Svoronos, Nos. 854-74) with rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Head of
Libya (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VI. 9 f.) was certainly struck there, either before or
after B.C. 283-271, during which years the province was in revolt under
Magas.


A long series (Svoronos, Nos. 626-838), many of them bearing regnal
dates which must be those of Philadelphus, display the mint-marks of
Tyre, Sidon, Ptolemaïs, Joppa, and Gaza. They are chiefly AR tetradrachms of conventional types, reading ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ or
(later) ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. V. 1-6). But there are
also AV pentadrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. II. 2, III. 2) and, towards the end of the
reign, very rare ‘Arsinoë’ octadrachms, as well as Æ. If Svoronos' 
view regarding Poole’s ‘uncertain era’ be correct (see supra, p. 847), then
the AR ‘Soter’ tetradrachms dated 42-50 (Svoronos, Nos. 848-52) must have
been struck B.C. 269-261. Their style (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXV. 1 f.) suggests a later date, but possibly its peculiarities are local. During this reign
and the next Egypt had command of the sea, and her empire embraced
many of the maritime districts of Asia Minor, even extending across the
Aegean into Thrace. Hence the appearance of Egyptian influence at




FIG. 377.




mints like Ephesus and Ptolemaïs-Lebedus (q. v.). In the absence of
specific local and other marks, the Ptolemaic coins issued in these
regions (Svoronos, Nos. 890 ff.) can seldom be attributed with certainty.
They include AR tetradrachms with a portrait of Ptolemy II or Ptolemy III
instead of the usual head of Soter (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IX. 4-6, XI. 9; Hunter
Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 5), and a very fine AV octadrachm, perhaps struck
at Ephesus, with obv. Head of Berenice II veiled, and rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ
ΒΕΡΕΝΙΚΗΣ Cornucopia filleted, symbol, Bee (Fig. 377). On grounds of
style Regling (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 364) dates the octadrachm to B.C. 258, when
the heir to the throne, hitherto associated with his father in the government, married Berenice II, the only daughter of Magas, and resigned the
co-regency in order to become ruler of the Cyrenaïca.


Ptolemy III (Euergetes), B.C. 246-221, brought the Cyrenaïca once
again into close union with Egypt through his accession. According to
Svoronos (Nos. 937-61), he continued the dated ‘Arsinoë’ series inaugurated by his father, limiting it, however, to AR decadrachms, which were
issued annually till the close of his reign (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 5). Possibly,
too, he was responsible for some of the AV octadrachms of the ΘΕΩΝ
ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ class (Svoronos, No. 934). A quarrel with Seleucus II led him
to invade the latter’s Eastern dominions in person, leaving Berenice to
govern Egypt and control the operations of the fleet. It may be to his
prolonged absence that we owe a notable set of coins (Svoronos, Nos. 962-82,
986-94), which are doubtless the Βερενικεια νομισματα of Pollux (Onom.,
ix. 84). The weight is Attic, [1] perhaps an indication that they were
called for by the exigencies of the war in Asia Minor, and the types are:
obv. Head of Berenice II; rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΒΕΡΕΝΙΚΗΣ Cornucopia,
with two stars on AV and two pilei on AR (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIII. 4-6). The
following denominations are known—AV decadrachms, pentadrachms, 2½drachms, , ½ drachms, and ¼ drachms; AR dodecadrachms. (?), pentadrachms, 2½ drachms. Along with
these go eight denominations of Æ of the usual Ptolemaic types and with
inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, but having generally a cornucopia
on the rev., either in front of the eagle or over its wing.


1 It has been generally supposed to be Phoenician. The larger denominations might
be so explained, but not the drachms and ½ drachms. It should be observed that this departure
from the normal standard was only temporary. All the other coins of Euergetes are of
Phoenician weight.

The close of the struggle is perhaps marked by Βερενικεια νομισματα of
Phoenician weight (Svoronos, Nos. 983 f. and 1113-16)—AV octadrachms.
(Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 13) and ½ drachms, AR decadrachms (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XIII. 3), and tetradrachms. (Imhoof MG., Pl. J. 12). These pieces
have some affinity with rare AV drachms, AR tetradrachms., and Æ (Svoronos,
Nos. 995-1000), all presenting a diademed or laureate portrait of
Ptolemy III (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XII. 2). The king appears again on an
interesting group of AV (Svor., Nos. 1117-19 and 1184), where he figures
in the triple guise of Zeus, Helios, and Poseidon:—




FIG. 378.




Bust of Ptolemy III, radiate, wearing
aegis, and carrying trident combined
with scepter (Fig. 378).
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Cornucopia, filleted and radiate.
AV Octadrachms, Tetradrachms, and Drachms



Five denominations of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1005-9) with rev. Cultus-statue of Aphrodite (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XI. 1 f.) may have been struck in
Cyprus or in Rhodes (Νομ. Πτολ., i, pp. σοδ ff., and iv, pp. 199 f.; Z. f. N.,
xxv, p. 366). In Phoenicia and Palestine Euergetes continued, for the
first six years of his reign, the issue of dated AV ‘Arsinoë’ octadrachms
and AR ‘Soter’ tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 2, X. 1) which Philadelphus had begun; see Svoronos, Nos. 1011-45. Svoronos (Nos. 1047-57)
attributes to the same district Æ with obv. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΒΕΡΕΝΙΚΗΣ,
Bust of Berenice, and rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, Eagle or Cornucopia. There are other ‘Soter’ tetradrachms (Svoronos, Nos. 1001 and
1089-1112) which probably belong to this king, particularly those dated
from the ‘Era of Soter’ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXV. 3-7).


Ptolemy IV (Philopator), B.C. 221-204, a weak and dissolute ruler,
was largely in the hands of favorites. Extant inscriptions (Strack,
Dyn. der Ptol., pp. 237 ff., Nos. 55-8, 66) point to his having been
closely associated with the worship of Sarapis and Isis. Svoronos may
therefore well be right (Nos. 1123 f. and 1136) in ascribing to him the
following:—




Heads of Sarapis and Isis, jugate.
[BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVIII. 8.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle
on fulmen; cornucopia on wing.
AR Tetradrachm



Some of these tetradrachms have ΔΙ on the rev. The AV ‘Arsinoë’
octadrachm (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 14) and AR and Æ of
ordinary types, also with ΔΙ, may possibly be contemporary (Svor., Nos.
1120-2, 1125-30). Svor., No. 1139, has the king’s own portrait:—




FIG. 379.




Bust of Ptolemy IV, diademed, wearing
chlamys (Fig. 379).
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ
Eagle on fulmen. AV Octadrachm.



Attached to the preceding is a group of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1140-52)
with various types (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 18 f.; BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XVIII. 5). Another interesting class, which may be Cyprian (Svor.,
Nos. 1159-62), presents a portrait of the queen:—




FIG. 380.




Bust of Arsinoë III, wearing stephane; scepter over shoulder (Fig. 380).
ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ Cornucopia filleted; above, star.
AV Octadrachm.



The Æ with like types read ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ. Rare AV
‘ Arsinoë’ octadrachms which Svoronos places here (Nos. 1163-5),
believing them to have been struck on the occasion of Philopator's
marriage, show stylistic divergences which render his hypothesis difficult
to accept (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 2 f.). A remarkable class,
some of which bear mint-marks (Tyre, Sidon, Ascalon, and Ptolemaïs),
others regnal dates (= B.C. 219 and 218), is characterized by the presence
of ΣΩ, probably indicating Sosibius, Philopator’s chief minister (Svoronos,
Nos. 1177-95). Besides AV octadrachms similar to Fig. 379 (Hunter
Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 5 f.) and Æ of ordinary types, it contains several
varieties of AR tetradrachms—(α) Obv. Bust of Ptolemy IV, Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Eagle
on fulmen (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIV. 9 f.); (β) Obv. Head of Ptolemy I, Rev.
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ, Similar;
(γ) Obv. Heads of Sarapis and Isis, jugate, Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, Similar. The series of ‘Soter’ tetradrachms with ‘Soter’
dates was reinforced by didrachms in B.C. 221 (Svoronos, Nos. 1205-14),
and after B.C. 210 only the didrachms seem to have been issued (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXV. 8 f.). Another innovation, perhaps due to Philopator, is
a series of AR, chiefly didrachms, of Cyprian fabric and Dionysiac
character (Svoronos, Nos. 1785-1812). This extended over several reigns, but the coins cannot be distributed with any confidence between the
different kings (see Z. f. N., xxv, pp. 391 ff.). The types are:—




Bust of king as Dionysos, wearing
diadem and ivy-wreath; over shoulder,
thyrsos. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIV. 6 f.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle
on fulmen; wings open.
AR Didrachm, Drachm, and ½ Drachm



Ptolemy V (Epiphanes), B.C. 204-181, came to the throne a mere child.
His reign was disastrous; all foreign possessions were lost except Cyprus
and the Cyrenaïca, Phoenicia and Palestine being annexed by Antiochus
III, whose daughter, Cleopatra, Ptolemy subsequently married. His coins
betray no trace of the great monetary change to which the contemporary
papyri bear witness (see supra, p. 846). For the first decade the issue of
‘Soter’ didrachms with dates (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXV. 10) appears to have
been continued (Svoronos, Nos. 1215-28). Svoronos further attributes to
this king (Nos. 1230 f.) AR octadrachms (Z. f. N., xxi, Pl. VI. 9) and
tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXIV. 7) with the types of Ptolemy I, and
likewise small AR uninscribed (No. 1232) with obv. Head of Isis, and AE
(Nos. 1233-40) with obv. Head of Isis (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXII. 5 f.) or of
Alexander (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXIII. 10), while it is to the tenth anniversary
of the marriage of Epiphanes and Cleopatra that he would assign (Nos.
1241 f.) the earliest of the ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδων‘ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 8).
These attributions are all more or less conjectural. On the other hand,
AV octadrachms of the ΘΕΩΝ ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ class (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VII. 5 f.) and
AR ‘Soter’ tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVII. 3), both bearing a spear-head as symbol and also a monogram which not improbably represents
the name of Aristomenes, the king’s guardian, were certainly struck by
Epiphanes (Svoronos, Nos. 1247 f., 1250), for symbol and monogram recur
together on rare AR tetradrachms (Svoronos No. 1249) with obv. Bust of
Ptolemy V, rev. ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ Winged fulmen (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXXII. 7). Ordinary Æ with the same monogram (Svoronos, Nos.
1251-3) are probably contemporary. Monograms also link together
the members of another group (Svoronos, Nos. 1254-66) which, in addition
to tetradrachms with the head of Soter and very rare Æ, includes




Bust of Ptolemy V, radiate; spear over
shoulder. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVII. 1 f.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Cornucopia, radiate, between stars.
AV Octadrachm.

Bust of Ptolemy V, diademed.

[‘Late Collector,’ Sale-Cat., 1900,
Pl. X. 478.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle
on fulmen. AR Tetradrachm.



A very similar series (Svoronos, Nos. 1269-84), with regnal dates (to
B.C. 195) and ΝΙ between the eagle’s legs, shows that Epiphanes did not
at once discard the types of his parents. Besides AV octadrachms and
AR tetradrachms with the bust of Ptolemy V (Fig. 381), it contains AR




FIG. 381


tetradrachms with the bust of Ptolemy IV, and one or two AV octadrachms
of Arsinoë III similar to Fig. 380 but with ΝΙ in the field. Even without
dates, the youthful representation of Epiphanes would suffice to show that
the preceding belong to the early part of the reign. A series of AR tetradrachms (Svoronos, Nos. 1285-94 and 1296-9) with types similar to Fig. 381,
and with ΝΙ, bears the mint-marks of Berytus, Tripolis, Tyre, Byblus, etc.,
and must therefore have ceased c. B.C. 200, when Antiochus III
occupied these towns. Ultimately the area of mintage was greatly
restricted. But a prominent place always belonged to Cyprus, where
there had been begun in the first year of the reign an issue of coins bearing regnal dates preceded by the symbol L (see supra, p. 847). Among
these Cyprian pieces (Svoronos, Nos. 1302-73) are a few AV ‘Arsinoë’
octadrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 6) and some very scarce Æ. The great
majority, however, are AR tetradrachms of the usual types [1] with
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIV. 2, XVI. 2, 4-8), and in
this form the series was destined to last as long as the dynasty itself.
The usual mint-marks are ΠΑ (Paphos), ΣΑ (Salamis), ΚΙ (Citium), and
ΑΜ (Amathus).


Ptolemy VI (Philometor), B.C. 181-146, was at first under the guardianship of his mother Cleopatra. To the period of her regency (B.C. 181-174) Svoronos assigns, besides Cyprian AR (Nos. 1388-93), a group of AE
of the usual types (Nos. 1375-9), having Κ between the eagle’s legs
(Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 15; BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVI. 10, XVIII. 3,
XXVI. 3), and also another (Nos. 1380- 2) with ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ
ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ on obv. and ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ on rev. (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXVI. 7, XXIII. 3, XVIII. 7). To the latter he attaches, in virtue of
a monogram, yet a third group (Nos. 1383-7), on which the name of
the queen does not occur (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXI. 3, XVI. 3). The fore going
were distributed by Poole over three different reigns, a proceeding for
which strong stylistic arguments might be adduced.


On Cleopatra’s death the regency passed into the hands of Eulaeus,
whose name (ΕΥΛ) is found on the rev. of five denominations of Æ (Svoronos,
Nos. 1395-1402). He and his colleague Lenaeus conceived the ambitious
design of recovering Phoenicia and Palestine for Egypt. The result was
an invasion of the Nile delta by Antiochus IV, who assumed the ‘protection’ of his young nephew, countermarking many of the ΕΥΛ coins
with the Seleucid anchor (BMC Ptolemies, p. 81, Nos. 20 ff.), and even issuing an
Egyptian currency (AR and AE) in his own name (see supra, p. 763). The
populace declined to submit to Syrian domination, and promptly transferred the crown (B.C. 170) to the younger son of Epiphanes, afterwards
Ptolemy VIII. A reconciliation between the brothers followed, and in
the end Roman intervention compelled Antiochus to withdraw. For a
few years the two Ptolemies reigned jointly, but in B.C. 164 the Cyrenaïca
was definitely handed over to the younger as his special sphere. Svoronos
may be right (Nos. 1423-8) in attributing to the joint-reign six
denominations of Æ with rev. Two eagles (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVI. 8 f., 12),


1 In his text (Νομ. Πτολ., i, p. τνθ, and iv, p. 274) Svoronos attributes to Cyprus a tetradrachm with the head of Epiphanes, which in his Catalogue (No. 1291) he had given to
Ptolemaïs or Joppa. Otherwise the head of Ptolemy I is universal on the AR tetradrachms
of this series, although his interpretation of the type as a symbol of divided sovereignty
seems fanciful, seeing that it occurs not infrequently at other times.


The Cyprian issues which commenced under Epiphanes were doubtless
continued under Philometor. But it is impossible to be sure that the
precise coins of this series ascribed to him by Svoronos (Nos. 1388-93,
1431-85)—whether AV octadrachms (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 18)
or AR tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIX. 1, 5-7)—are really his. The dates
would also suit his brother, who was at once his contemporary and his
successor. There are other pieces of even more doubtful attribution, such
as the ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘ (Svoronos, No. 1498). Against these may be set
a highly interesting AR tetradrachm (Svoronos, No. 1486), regarding which
there is no possibility of question. It was struck at Ptolemaïs c. B.C.
148, when Philometor intervened in the struggle between Alexander
Bala and Demetrius II:—




Head of Ptolemy VI, diademed.

[BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXXII. 8.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ
ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ Eagle on fulmen;
on wing, stalk of corn.



Ptolemy VII (Eupator), B.C. 146, was murdered at his uncle’s instigation almost immediately upon his accession. Although he seems to have
left no coins of his own, an AR Cyprian tetradrachm dated LΑϚ ΚΑΙ Α
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXXII. 9) is perhaps a relic of the brief period during
which he was associated with his father in the kingdom, the thirty-sixth
year of Philometor being the first of Eupator. [1]


Ptolemy VIII (Euergetes II), B.C. 170-116, surnamed Physcon, did
not really become monarch until B.C. 146, when he returned from
Cyrene and succeeded his murdered nephew. But he always reckoned
his regnal years from his first proclamation by the Egyptians. Among
the coins of the ordinary Cyprian series which are given to him by
Svoronos (Nos. 1501-1620), those with dates between 37 (LΛΖ) and 54
(LΝΔ) must certainly be his (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXI. 10 f., XXII. 4, XXIII.
1 f., 4-7), for no other among the later kings reigned for more than thirty-six years. As regards the rest, it is not possible to discriminate accurately
between his issues and those of his brother, except in the case of Very
scarce didrachms of the year 33 (Svoronos, No. 1507). These bear a radiate
head which is clearly not that of Philometor, and therefore presumably
represents Physcon. Another attribution that is scarcely doubtful is
the dated Æ (Nos. 1621-32) with a lotus-flower in the field of the rev.
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XX. 4 f.). Similar Æ undated (Svoronos, Nos. 1636-9) may
well be his also (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIX. 3). Both the last-mentioned seem
to have been minted in Cyprus, and it is possibly from the same island
that there come several denominations of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1640-56) with
rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ Double cornucopia
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXIV. 1) or Eagle (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXII. 7-9). Svoronos'
attribution (Nos. 1499 f.) of ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘ to B.C. 134 (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. VIII. 10) is only a surmise. On the other hand, two denominations
of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1657 f) with rev. Head of Libya must belong to


1 This view is, however, rejected by Svoronos (No. 1509) who explains the legend
differently (Νομ. Πτολ., i. p. τ-β, and iv, pp. 305 f.).

Physcon, if the monogram they bear is to be resolved into ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ.
They are obviously Cyrenaean, and Regling suggests that they may
have been struck B.C. 164-146, while Ptolemy VIII was still merely
regent of the Cyrenaïca (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 385).


Ptolemy IX (Neos Philopator), B.C. 121-117, has left no coins. He
predeceased his father, after having been co-regent for a year or two.


Ptolemy X (Soter II, Lathyrus), Cleopatra III, and Ptolemy XI
(Alexander I), B.C. 116-80, fill a very confused page of Egyptian
history (Νομ. Πτολ., i. pp. υζ ff., and iv, pp. 320 ff.; Z. f. N., xxv,
pp. 385 ff.). Ptolemy VIII left the regency to his widow Cleopatra III.
She would have preferred to have the younger of the princes as a
colleague, but was only able to secure for him the governorship of
Cyprus, his appointment to which, however, in B.C. 114 he always
regarded as the beginning of his reign as Ptolemy XI. His elder brother
reckons his regnal years, like Cleopatra, from the death of Physcon.
In B.C. 107 Alexander returned to Egypt, forced his brother to withdraw,
and established himself in his stead. In B.C. 101 he murdered Cleopatra,
with whom he had up till now reigned jointly, and in the same year he
acknowledged his brother as king of Cyprus. Lathyrus ruled Cyprus
till B.C. 88, when Alexander died. He then came back to Alexandreia,
and reigned undisturbed till his death in B.C. 80. The only AR coins of
this period that can be attributed with perfect certainty are tetradrachms of the Cyprian class with ΠΑ (Svoronos, Nos. 1727-31), struck
between B.C. 106 and 101. They bear double dates that can only
represent the regnal years of Cleopatra and of Alexander (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXVIII. 1 f.). The remainder of the dated AR falls into three groups:
(a) Svoronos, Nos. 1659-88: tetradrachms, and very rare didrachms, drachms and ½ drachms,
with ΠΑ and dates from LΑ to LΛC (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVI. 4-6, XXVII.
I f., etc.); (β) Svoronos, Nos. 1689-93: tetradrachms., with ΠΑ or ΣΑ and dates from
LΙΗ to LΚΖ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVII. 3, XXXII. 10); (γ) Svoronos, Nos. 1734-84: tetradrachms, with ΠΑ, ΣΑ, or ΚΙ and dates from LΑ to LΙ (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXVI. 2, XXVII. 5-8). On the difficulty of distributing these
among the different claimants see Z. f. N., xxv, pp. 386 ff. The task
would be simpler if it were certain when ΠΑ ceased to have a purely
local significance and came to be placed on coins minted at Alexandreia,
as it undoubtedly was later. There are Æ pieces (Svoronos, Nos. 1717-22) with rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ (ΣΩ, ΣΩ ΘΕ)
Eagle, Double cornucopia, or Head-dress of Isis (BMC Ptolemies, XXVI. 10 f.),
which must have been struck by Ptolemy X. Other Æ (Svoronos, Nos.
1694-1716, and 1724 f.) are more uncertain, as are the ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘
which Svoronos (No. 1726) believes to have been issued in B.C. 107 on
the twentieth anniversary of Cleopatra’s marriage. Ptolemy Apion, a
natural son of Physcon, was regent in Cyrene for some part of the
period under discussion, but his coins cannot now be identified.


Ptolemy XII (Alexander II), B.C. 80, son of Ptolemy XI, reigned only
nineteen days. Svoronos (Nos. 1732 f.) assigns to Alexander I and
Cleopatra III the Æ that used to be attributed to Alexander II and
Cleopatra Berenice III, or to Ptolemy Apion (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVIII. 9).

Ptolemy XIII (Neos Dionysos), B.C. 80-58 and 55-51, surnamed
Auletes, a natural son of Ptolemy XI, had a long but troubled reign.
The coins usually given to him are AR tetradrachms of singularly base




FIG. 382.


metal, with ΠΑ and a head-dress of Isis in the field of the rev. (Fig. 382).
They fall into two series: (α) Svoronos, Nos. 1815-35, with dates from
LΑ to LΚΒ; (β) Svoronos, Nos. 1836-40, with dates from LΚΖ to LΛ. It
is generally supposed that the gap indicates the king’s exile. Regling,
however, gives series (a) to the next reign (q. v.). A portrait of Auletes
appears on a very rare drachm struck in B.C. 53 (Svoronos, No. 1838).
Svoronos’ further attributions (Nos. 1841 and 1845) of ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘ (BMC Ptolemies, pl. VIII. 9) and Æ to the time of Auletes are
altogether conjectural.


Cleopatra VII, B.C. 51-30, daughter of Auletes, was the dominating
personality throughout the closing years of the dynasty. Her brothers,
 Ptolemy XIV and XV, and her son, Ptolemy XVI (Caesarion), were no
more than puppets. Svoronos (Nos. 1847-52, 1854-70) ascribes to
her a series of AR of the usual types, with dates from LΑ to LΚΓ (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXIX. 4-8), which Feuardent and Poole had given to a younger
brother of Auletes, who was at one time king in Cyprus. Regling prefers
to assign these to Auletes himself (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 393 f.), substituting
them for series (α) described above, which he attributes to Cleopatra,
thus making the tetradrachms with the head-dress of Isis a continuous
series, divided between two monarchs. A strong argument in favor of
this arrangement is the occurrence of the same symbol, also with ΠΑ,
on a remarkable drachm (Svoronos, No. 1853), struck in the year B.C. 46,
and bearing a portrait of Cleopatra (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXX. 5). Very special
interest centers round a group of Æ with obv. Head of Cleopatra, rev.
ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ, Eagle on fulmen (Svoronos, Nos. 1871 f.).
There are two denominations marked Π and Μ respectively (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXX. 7 f.). Regling (Z. f. N., xxiii, pp. 115 f.) has proved conclusively
that these letters are numerals (= 80 and 40), denoting the number of
copper drachm that each denomination contained (see supra, p. 846).
Apparently at this time the copper drachma weighed only 4 or 5 grains.
On Æ struck probably in Cyprus (Svoronos, No. 1874) the queen appears as
Aphrodite with the infant Caesarion as Eros in her arms (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXX. 6). Her union with M. Antonius meant the recovery by Egypt
of its lost dominion over Phoenicia and Palestine. Hence the issue at
Ascalon (see supra, p. 804) of AR tetradrachms with Cleopatra’s portrait.
These represent a revival of the old Phoenician coinage of the Seleucid
kings (see supra, p. 765), just as the Æ pieces of Berytus, Tripolis, and Damascus on which her head occurs (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXV. 1)
represent a revival of the municipal coinage originally inaugurated by
Antiochus IV (see supra, p. 763). For AR tetradrachms with heads of
Cleopatra and M. Antonius see Antiocheia ad Orontem, p. 778.


ii. EGYPT UNDER THE ROMANS 

Egypt

Herodotus relates (iv. 166) that Aryandes, who had been appointed
satrap of Egypt by Cambyses, mortally offended Darius, son of
Hystaspes, by issuing silver money which rivaled in purity the gold
darics of the great king himself. If the story be true, it probably
refers to ordinary Persian sigloi. No coins have come down to us
which can be identified as those of Aryandes. Besides, there is positive
evidence to suggest that throughout the period of Persian dominion
coined money as such was not current in Egypt at all. Silver was
a common medium of exchange; but, when it passed from hand to
hand, its precise value was always determined by weighing. As Dressel
has pointed out (Z. f. N., xxii, pp. 231 ff.), there is no other satisfactory
explanation of phenomena like the so-called ‘silversmith’s hoard’ from
Naucratis, a find which contained fifteen archaic silver coins of various
Greek cities together with 42 oz. of roughly cast and cut up lumps
of silver (Num. Chron., 1886, p. 4; cf. for other instances ibid., 1890,
pp. 1 ff., and 1899, pp. 269 ff.). The institution of a regular coinage
dates from the reign of Alexander the Great, some of whose AV staters
and AR tetradrachms are undoubtedly of Egyptian origin. The monarchy
that followed the empire of Alexander lasted until Egypt was absorbed
by Rome. Consequently civic issues are not to be looked for. The
only known example (Æ) must owe its existence to quite exceptional
circumstances:—


Naucratis. The style is that of the fourth century B.C. The two or
three extant specimens have all been found on the site of the famous
Greek emporium.




Female head r., wreathed; beneath,
ΝΑΥ. [NC 1886, Pl. I. 9; 1902,
Pl. XVII. 10.]
Beardless head r., wreathed; short,
flying hair; beneath, ΑΛΕ. Æ .6

i. Greek Kings of Egypt (Ptolemaic Kingdom) Ptolemaic| |Kingdom |Coins for |Sale in the |Forum |Ancient |Coins |Shop
References
Brett, A. "Dated coins of Ptolemy V, 204 - 180 B.C." in ANSMN 2 (1947), pp. 1 - 11.
Brooks, E. "The overstruck coinage of Ptolemy I" in ANSMN 6 (1954), pp. 69 - 84.
Burnett, A., M. Amandry, et al. Roman Provincial Coinage. (1992 - ).
Cox, D. Coins from the Excavations at Curium, 1932-1953. ANSNNM 145. (New York, 1959).
Faucher, T., A. Meadows & C. Lorber. Egyptian Hoards I, The Ptolemies. (Le Claire, France, 2017).
Faucher, T. & C. Lorber. "Bronze Coinage of Ptolemaic Egypt in the Second Century BC" in AJN 22 (2010), pp. 35-84.
Gitler, H & C. Lorber. "A New Chronology for the Ptolemaic Coins of Judah" in AJN 18 (2006).
Hazzard, R. Ptolemaic Coins: An Introduction for Collectors. (Toronto, 1995).
Hazzard, R. & I. Brown. "The Silver Standard of the Ptolemaic Coinage" in Review Numismatique 26 (1984), pp. 231 - 239.
Hendin, D. Guide to Biblical Coins, 5th Edition. (Amphora, 2010).
Hill, G. A Catalog| of the |Greek |Coins in the |British |Museum, |Greek |Coins of |Cyprus. (London, 1904).
Hill, G. Catalogue| of |Greek |Coins in the |British |Museum: |Phoenicia. (London, 1910).
Jenkins, G. "An early Ptolemaic hard from Phacous" in ANSMN 9 (1960), pp. 17 - 37.
Kreuzer, M. The Coinage System of Cleopatra VII, Marc Antony and Augustus in Cyprus. (Springfield, MA, 2004).
Lorber, C. Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire. (New York, 2018).
Lorber, C. "The Lotus of Aphrodite on Ptolemaic Bronzes" in SNR 80 (2001).
Ma|c|donald, G. Catalogue| of Greek| Coins| in the |Hunterian |Collection, vol. III. (Glasgow, 1899).
Malter, J. The Coinage of Ancient Egypt, Auction II, February 23 and 24, 1978. (Encino, CA, 1978).
Meshorer, Y. A Treasury of Jewish Coins from the Persian Period to Bar Kokhba. (Jerusalem, 2001).
Michaelidou, L, ed. Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage, Coin Catalogue. (Nicosia, 1996).
Michaelidou, L. and E. Zapiti. Coins of Cyprus, From the Collection of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation. (Nicosia, 2008).
Mildenberg, L. "Yehud: A Preliminary Study of the Provincial Coinage of Judaea" in Essays Thompson.
Mørkholm, O. "Cyprus Hoard, 1982" in NC 147 (1987), pp. 156 - 158.
Mørkholm, O. Early Hellenistic Coinage. From the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamea (336-188 BC). (Cambridge, 1991).
Mørkholm, O. "Ptolemaic coins and chronology: The dated silver coinage of Alexandria" in MN 20 (1975), pp. 7–24.
Mørkholm, O. "The Ptolemaic 'coins of an uncertain era'" in Nordisk Numismatisk Arskrift 1975 - 1976, pp. 23 - 58.
Mørkholm, O. “The last Ptolemaic silver coinage in Cyprus” in Chiron 13 (1983), pp. 69–79.
Nicolaou, I. Paphos II. The Coins from the House of Dionysos. Department of Antiquities Cyprus. (Nicosia, 1990).
Noeske, H-C. Die Münzen der Ptolemäer. (Frankfurt, 2000).
Olivier, J. & C. Lorber. “Three gold coinages of third-century Ptolemaic Egypt” in RBN CLIX (2013).
Pitchfork, C. The Jon Hosking Collection of Ptolemaic Coins. Nicholson Museum, University of Sydney. (Sydney, 2000).
Poole, R. A Catalog| of the |Greek |Coins in the |British |Museum, the |Ptolemies, Kings of |Egypt. (London, 1882).
Price, M. The Coinage of in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus. (London, 1991).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 2, Asia and Africa. (London, 1979).
Robinson, E. A |Catalog of the |Greek Coins| in the |British |Museum, The |Greek |Coins of |Cyrenaica. (London, 1927).
Svoronos, J. Ta Nomismata tou Kratous ton Ptolemaion. (Athens, 1904-08).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Volume 8: Egypt, North Africa, Spain - Gaul. (New Jersey, 1994).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Italy, Milano XIII, Civiche Coltrane Numismatiche, Aegyptus, Part 1: Ptolemaei. (Milan, 1989).
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Wolf, D. & C. Lorber. "The 'Galatian Shield without [monogram]' Series of Ptolemaic Bronze Coins" in NC 171 (2011).
Zervos, O. "The early tetradrachms of Ptolemy I" in ANSMN 13 (1967), pp. 1 - 16.LinksBMC Ptolemies Online - http://snible.org/coins/bmc/#ptolemies
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Reigns of the Ptolemaic Dynasty
Dates in brackets represent the regnal dates of the Ptolemaic pharaohs. They frequently ruled jointly with their wives, who were often also their sisters. Several queens exercised regal authority. Of these, one of the last and most famous was Cleopatra ("Cleopatra VII Philopator", 51–30 BC), with her two brothers and her son serving as successive nominal co-rulers. Several systems exist for numbering the later rulers; the one used here is the one most widely used by modern scholars.

- Ptolemy I Soter (303–282 BC) married first Thaïs, then Artakama, then Eurydice, and finally Berenice I.
- Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 BC) married Arsinoe I, then Arsinoe II; ruled jointly with Ptolemy Epigonos (267–259 BC).
- Ptolemy III Euergetes (246–221 BC) married Berenice II.
- Ptolemy IV Philopator (221–203 BC) married Arsinoe III.
- Ptolemy V Epiphanes (203–181 BC) married Cleopatra I Syra.
- Ptolemy VI Philometor (181–164 BC, 163–145 BC) married Cleopatra II, briefly ruled jointly with Ptolemy Eupator in 152 BC.
- Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator (never reigned).
- Ptolemy VIII Physcon (170–163 BC, 145–116 BC) married Cleopatra II, then Cleopatra III; temporarily expelled by Cleopatra II (131-127 BC), then reconciled with her (124 BC).
- Cleopatra II Philometora Soteira (131–127 BC), in opposition to Ptolemy VIII Physcon.
- Cleopatra III Philometor Soteira Dikaiosyne Nikephoros (Kokke) (116–101 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy IX Lathyros (116–107 BC) and Ptolemy X Alexander I (107–101 BC).
- Ptolemy IX Lathyros (116–107 BC, 88–81 BC as Soter II) married Cleopatra IV, then Cleopatra Selene; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III in his first reign.
- Ptolemy X Alexander I (107–88 BC) married Cleopatra Selene, then Berenice III; ruled jointly with Cleopatra III till 101 BC.
- Berenice III Philopator (81–80 BC).
- Ptolemy XI Alexander II (80 BC) married and ruled jointly with Berenice III before murdering her; ruled alone for 19 days after that.
- Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (Auletes) (80–58 BC, 55–51 BC) married Cleopatra V Tryphaena.
- Cleopatra V Tryphaena (58–57 BC) ruled jointly with Berenice IV Epiphaneia (58–55 BC) and Cleopatra VI Tryphaena (58 BC).
- Cleopatra ("Cleopatra VII Philopator", 51–30 BC) ruled jointly with Ptolemy XIII Theos Philopator (51–47 BC), Ptolemy XIV (47–44 BC) and Ptolemy XV Caesarion (44–30 BC).
- Arsinoe IV (48–47 BC), in opposition to Cleopatra.

Other notable members of the Ptolemaic dynasty

- Ptolemy Keraunos (died 279 BC) - eldest son of Ptolemy I Soter. Eventually became king of Macedonia.
- Ptolemy Apion (died 96 BC) - son of Ptolemy VIII Physcon. Made king of Cyrenaica. Bequeathed Cyrenaica to Rome.
- Ptolemy Philadelphus (born 36 BC) - son of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VII.
- Ptolemy of Mauretania (died 40 AD) - son of King Juba II of Numidia and Mauretania and Cleopatra Selene II, daughter of Cleopatra VII and Mark Antony. King of Mauretania.



The long series of the coins of the Ptolemies is generally admitted
to be the most difficult to classify in the whole range of Greek numismatics. In spite of the enormous number of issues, the types present
comparatively little variety. The inscriptions are mostly conventional
and, although dates are frequent, the era of reckoning is not always
certain. Again, while some mint-marks—notably those of Phoenician,
Palestinian, and Cyprian cities—are easily recognized, there are many
coins that bear either no mint-mark at all or one of doubtful significance.
Finally, our information as to finds is anything but adequate. This
last circumstance is much to be regretted. A knowledge of the manner
in which the coins are normally associated in hoards, and of the localities
whence particular varieties come, would be of immense service in
dealing with the problem of arrangement. As yet a final solution is
hardly within sight. The late Dr. R. S. Poole laid the foundations
of a scientific study of the subject, and his classification was for many
years universally accepted as trustworthy. The publication of the mass
of material brought together by Dr. J. N. Svoronos has shown that not
a few of Poole’s conclusions are untenable. Whether the alternative
attributions proposed by Svoronos are in all cases sound, is a question
regarding which there is room for considerable difference of opinion; cf.
Regling’s exhaustive criticism in Z. f. N., xxv. [1] But in any event his
book marks a most substantial advance, and it will necessarily form the
ground work of the brief outline which is all that can be given within
the limits of this manual.
1 Svoronos has reprinted this extremely useful article in Νομ. Πτολ., iv, pp. 455 ff.
We have seen that the oldest Egyptian coins were Attic staters and
tetradrachms having the name and types of Alexander. Modifications
were soon introduced, but the weight at first remained unaltered.
Presently, however, after a period of transition, during which Rhodian
tetradrachms and smaller AR make a fitful appearance, the Attic standard
was definitely superseded by the Phoenician. The change took place
shortly after B.C. 305. Probably it was not unconnected with the
difficulty that must have been experienced in combining the Attic with
the native Egyptian system, and particularly in adjusting the relations
between coins of gold and silver on the one hand and coins of copper on
the other. The papyri furnish striking testimony to the exceptional
position occupied by the last-named metal in Egypt. Down to the end
of the third century B.C. accounts are always stated on the basis of
a silver standard, the values being expressed in drachm, obols, and
chalkoi. From the reign of Ptolemy Epiphanes onwards the standard
of reckoning is a copper one, the unit of value being the δραχμη χαλκου,
which exchanged with the δραχμη αργυριου at rates varying from 350:1
to 500:1. Thus much is clear. But behind lie questions at once
intricate and obscure, for which see the luminous discussion by Grenfell
and his colleagues in Tebtunis Papyri, i, pp. 580-603, where it is shown that there is no ground for the common belief that the ratio of Æ to AR in
Ptolemaic Egypt was something like 120:1. A more correct approximation would be 30:1. Further, the Æ drachma was not of the same
weight as the AR drachma. Indeed, it is probable that the Æ drachma
was not a coin at all, but a mere unit of account. Sums stated in AE drachm in the papyri are practically always multiples of five, from
which it may be inferred that the smallest denomination struck was
a five drachms piece. [1] These conclusions conflict markedly with the
views previously in vogue among metrologists and subsequently reiterated by Hultsch and Svoronos, Nομ. Πτολ., vol. iv. Nevertheless
they seem to be required by the evidence. And, failing fresh light from
the papyri, it is hardly likely that we shall get much beyond them until
the careful observation of finds enables the chronological succession of
the coins to be more confidently determined; see J. G. Milne in Annals
of Archaeology and Anthropology, 1908, pp. 30 ff.

The ordinary method of dating is by regnal years. From c. B.C.
200 onwards the numeral is regularly preceded by the symbol L, which
is also of common occurrence in Ptolemaic papyri. This was formerly
supposed to be an Egyptian sign, perhaps of demotic origin, but it may
be no more than a fragmentary survival of the initial Ε of ΕΤΟVΣ
(J. H. S., 1902, pp. 149 ff). Apart from regnal years, Poole noted on
one group of coins a series of dates running beyond 100, and therefore
obviously calculated on a different principle (BMC Ptolemies, pp. lxxiv ff. and
101 ff.). Svoronos has made out a good case for believing that
Poole’s ‘uncertain era’ was reckoned from B.C. 311, when the death
of Alexander IV relieved Ptolemy from even nominal dependence on
a suzerain (Rev. Belge, 1901, pp. 413 ff.). His arguments for such an
‘era of Soter’, though in themselves not quite conclusive, receive strong
support from the circumstance that the dating of a Tyrian inscription
had already suggested a similar inference to Strack (Dyn. der Ptol.,
pp. 149 ff.). Less convincing is his assumption of another era commencing with the death or, rather, the deification of Arsinoë II in
B.C. 270 (Νομ. Πτολ., i, pp. ρμη-ρξβ, and iv, pp. 83-95). The grounds
of conjecture here are more slender, and the resulting arrangement of
coins has yet to be confirmed by other evidence. Still, the hypothesis
is ingenious. It accounts for some curious coincidences. And it has
therefore established a claim to at least provisional acceptance. The
same may perhaps be said of his theory of χρυσα δεκαετηριδων, according
to which certain AV pieces of a medallic character were issued in various
reigns in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the royal marriage.
They are chiefly octadrachms, and may be thus described; obv. Head of
queen, with Κ [= 10] behind; rev. ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ, Double cornucopias. Many of the Ptolemaic coins bear magistrates’ monograms
or initials. Surmises as to the actual names which these represent should
be received with great caution.



1 It is also significant that a πενταδραχμον νομισμα was the coin employed to set in
motion the automatic machines that supplied the devout with lustral water at the doors
of certain temples in Alexandreia (Heron, Πνευματικα, i. 21)Ptolemy I (Soter), B.C. 323-285, ruled Egypt until B.C. 311 as
the satrap Of Philip Aridaeus and of Alexander IV; thereafter, independently. Although the form of the inscription on the coins can no longer
be accepted as a guide to their classification, his assumption of the
title βασιλευς (B.C. 305) remains a convenient landmark.




FIG. 373.


Period I (B.C. 323-305). Ptolemy’s earliest money was struck in the
names of his successive suzerains, the types being those of Alexander the
Great. Before long, however,—perhaps on the death of Philip in B.C.
316—the familiar head of Herakles on the tetradrachms was replaced
by a head of Alexander the Great in elephant-skin (Fig. 373). The
normal weight is Attic, and the usual inscription ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (Svoronos,
Nos. 18-24). A set of rare anonymous pieces (Svor., Nos. 25 f.), with
the same obv. but with rev. Prow (AV staters) or Eagle (AR ½ obols),
may have been issued when Alexander IV died (B.C. 311). If so,
anonymity did not suit the public taste, for ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ reappears
on a much larger group (Svoronos, Nos. 33-58) that must fall between B.C.
311 and 305. This contains AV with Alexandrine types (N. C., 1892,
Pl. II. 9) and also Æ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 4, 7). Its chief feature, however,
is AR distinguished by a novel rev. type and by the introduction of the
Rhodian standard:—




Head of Alexander the Great in elephant-skin. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 2.]
Archaistic figure of Athena Promachos, hurling fulmen; in field, eagle.
AR Attic Tetradrachms.

Id. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 3.]
Id. AR Rhodian Drachms. and ½ Drachms.



The transition to the next period is marked by a tetradrachm
of Rhodian weight with the types just described but with inscription
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (N. C., 1900, Pl. I. 15). Another, still of Attic weight,
reads ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΕΙΟΝ [1] (Svoronos, No. 32). Presumably
the whole of the foregoing were minted in Egypt. For AV issued in
Cyprus by Ptolemy’s brother Menelaus and by his son-in-law Eunostus
see supra, pp. 744 f. A series of Æ, probably Cyprian but slightly later
(Svoronos, Nos. 74-82), has: obv. Head of Aphrodite; rev. ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ,
Eagle on fulmen (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. I. 9). In the Cyrenaïca, side by side
with autonomous AR, for which see infra, there were struck AV staters
and ½ staters (Svoronos, Nos. 59-64) with ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ, ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΩ
(or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ) ΚΥΡΑΝΑΙΟΝ, etc. (N. C., 1894, Pl. VIII. 5), and
also Æ with ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (Svoronos, Nos. 65-71).


1 That is, ‘coin of Alexander, struck by Ptolemy.’ Svoronos (i, p. νη, and iv, p. 11)
renders ‘coin of Alexandreia, struck by Ptolemy’, citing as analogies ΝΙΚΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ
ΠΑΦΙΟΝ and ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΩ (or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ) ΚΥΡΑΝΑΙΟΝ. But, in the
absence of any local coinage of Alexandreia, there is no warrant for departing from the
ordinary meaning of Αλεξανδρειον (Pollux, Onom., ix. 84), particularly when it gives an
excellent sense.

FIG. 374.


Period II (B.C. 305-285). The appearance of βασιλευς fixes the
date of an important group (Svoronos, Nos. 101-80), the various members
of which are proved by monograms, etc., to be intimately connected,
differences of inscription notwithstanding:—




Head of Ptolemy I, diademed and wearing aegis. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. II. 10 f.]
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Alexander, as son of
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ Ammon, in quadriga
of elephants. AV 110 grs. Phoenician. Stater.

Head of Alexander the Great in elephant-skin (Fig. 374).
ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Archaistic figure of
Athena Promachos, hurling fulmen;
in field, eagle on fulmen.
AR Rhodian Tetradrachm.

Head of Alexander the Great, horned;
hair long. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. II. 1.]
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (sometimes with ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ) Eagle on fulmen. Æ .85-.7



The use of the Phoenician standard for the AV should be noted.
The weight of the AR tetradrachms possibly indicates that they were
intended for foreign commerce. The majority, however, were certainly
minted in Egypt itself; some of them have on the obv. a microscopic Δ,
probably an engraver’s signature, and this recurs frequently on the
larger denominations of what must be regarded as the true regal coinage
of Ptolemy I, struck in Egypt for Egyptian needs (Svoronos, Nos. 181-303).
The standard of the latter is Phoenician for AV and AR alike, and the
types in these metals are those generally adhered to afterwards down
to the Roman occupation:—




FIG. 375.




Head of Ptolemy I, diademed and wearing aegis (Fig. 375).
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle on
fulmen; in field, monogram.
AR Phonetician Tetradrachm.



The AV comprised pentadrachms and triobols, the eagle’s wings on the
latter being open (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. III. 5), while the AR included not only
tetradrachms, but also octadrachms (Z. f. N., xxi. Pl. VI. 8). The contemporary Æ had: obv. Head of Soter, of Zeus, or of Alexander;
rev. Ptolemaic eagle (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. III. 3 f., 6 f.). The Cyrenaïca during
this period produced AV, AR, and Æ with obv. Head of Soter (Svoronos,
Nos. 304-13 and 322-31), as well as AR and Æ with obv. Head of
Berenice I (Svoronos, Nos. 316-21). Some bear the monogram of the
governor Magas, son of Berenice and stepson of Soter (Hunter Cat., iii,
Pl. LXXXI. 1; BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIII. 7 f.).


Ptolemy II (Philadelphus), B.C. 285-246, is said by Appian (Praef. x)
to have been και πορισαι δεινοτατος βασιλεων και δαπανησαι λαμπροτατος
και κατασκευοσαι μεγαλουργοτατος, a description aptly illustrated by the
profusion and almost barbaric magnificence of his coinage. He became
king two years before his father’s death, Soter having voluntarily
abdicated in order to ensure that he should be succeeded by the son
of his choice rather than by the impetuous Keraunos. At first the
types remained unaltered (Svoronos, Nos. 338-87). Indeed, it is doubtful
whether the pieces struck by father and son respectively can now be
distinguished (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 353), although Svoronos assigns all the
AV triobols and AR octadrachms to Soter, while crediting Philadelphus
with the introduction of the AR drachm (Rev. Eagle with open wings) and
also with certain innovations in the Æ, notably the adoption of the head
of Arsinoë II as an obv. type (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIII. 10). [1] He believes that
this coinage lasted till B.C. 271, the only other contemporary issue being
a set of AR tetradrachms (Svoronos, Nos. 388-407) with the usual types but
with inscription ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. X. 3 f., and XIV. 8).
1 It is in this period that we first find the central hole which is so characteristic a feature
of Ptolemaic Æ coins.



The deification of Arsinoë II, on her death in B.C. 270, was a master-stroke of financial policy (Strack, Rhein. Mus., 1900, pp. 164 ff.).
Involving as it did the diversion into the royal treasury of a rich stream
of temple dues, it seems to have led to a complete reorganization of the
coinage (Svoronos, Nos. 408-519):—




Head of Arsinoë II, veiled and wearing
stephane. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 4.]
ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ Double cornucopia, filleted. AV Octadrachm.

Id. [Ward Coll., Pl. XXII. 888.]
Id. AR Decadrachm.

Id. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 3.]
ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ Eagle on
fulmen. AR Tetradrachm.

Head of Ptolemy I, diademed and wearing aegis. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. X. 5.]
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ Id.
AR Tetradrachm.



The weight is Phoenician. On nearly all there appears behind the
head a numeral letter or letters, interpreted by Svoronos as dates
reckoned from the ‘Era of Arsinoë’ (see supra, p. 847). Corresponding
letters occur on the rev. of eight denominations of associated Æ, some of
which are of exceptional size and weight: obv. Head of Ammon, or of
Alexander; rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle, or Two eagles,
on fulmen (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. V. 7-9, VI. 4, X. 2, 6 f.). A few AV octadrachms with types and inscription as above, but with no numeral letter, bear
mint-marks of Cyprian cities (Svoronos, Nos. 520-3).
Other series (Svoronos, Nos. 524-602), some of which may be Cyprian, show beside the Ptolemaic eagle on the rev., either singly or in combination, the monogram and a shield blazoned with a fulmen; inscribed
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ. The denominations most usually met
with are AV pentadrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IV. 2) and AR tetradrachms
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IV. 1, VI. 3, IX. 1 f., etc.); but there are also AR drachms as
well as Æ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IV. 3, and IX. 3). Many specimens have
numeral letters, which are probably regnal dates. The fact that the
engraver Δ is still occasionally active confirms the attribution to
Ptolemy II, particularly when taken in conjunction with the shield, for
this symbol is found on a remarkable series (Svoronos, Nos. 603-25) which
can hardly belong to any one else:—




FIG. 376.




ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ Heads of Ptolemy II and
Arsinoë II, jugate; behind, shield
blazoned with fulmen (Fig. 376.)
ΘΕΩΝ Heads of Ptolemy I and Berenice I, jugate. AV Octadrachm.



The inscription. refers to the cult of Soter and his consort as θεοι αδελφοι.
There are similar pieces of later style (cf. BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VII), which must
have been struck by subsequent kings. Besides AV octadrachms, the series
contained AV tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VII. 1 and 3), didrachms, and
drachms, as well as AR didrachms and ½ drachms—all very much alike,
except that the ½ drachm had no inscription. (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXI. 17).
The AR tetradrachms, which are very rare, were of the ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ
ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ class, while the types of the Æ were ordinary (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. IV. 4, 6). Sporadic letters are taken by Svoronos to be dates of the
‘Arsinoë era’, and the whole of the ΘΕΩΝ ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ coins are believed
by him to have been minted in the Cyrenaïca (Νομ. Πτολ., i, p. ση, and
iv, p. 133). This is quite doubtful. On the other hand, a group of AE
(Svoronos, Nos. 854-74) with rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Head of
Libya (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VI. 9 f.) was certainly struck there, either before or
after B.C. 283-271, during which years the province was in revolt under
Magas.


A long series (Svoronos, Nos. 626-838), many of them bearing regnal
dates which must be those of Philadelphus, display the mint-marks of
Tyre, Sidon, Ptolemaïs, Joppa, and Gaza. They are chiefly AR tetradrachms of conventional types, reading ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ or
(later) ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. V. 1-6). But there are
also AV pentadrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. II. 2, III. 2) and, towards the end of the
reign, very rare ‘Arsinoë’ octadrachms, as well as Æ. If Svoronos' 
view regarding Poole’s ‘uncertain era’ be correct (see supra, p. 847), then
the AR ‘Soter’ tetradrachms dated 42-50 (Svoronos, Nos. 848-52) must have
been struck B.C. 269-261. Their style (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXV. 1 f.) suggests a later date, but possibly its peculiarities are local. During this reign
and the next Egypt had command of the sea, and her empire embraced
many of the maritime districts of Asia Minor, even extending across the
Aegean into Thrace. Hence the appearance of Egyptian influence at




FIG. 377.




mints like Ephesus and Ptolemaïs-Lebedus (q. v.). In the absence of
specific local and other marks, the Ptolemaic coins issued in these
regions (Svoronos, Nos. 890 ff.) can seldom be attributed with certainty.
They include AR tetradrachms with a portrait of Ptolemy II or Ptolemy III
instead of the usual head of Soter (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. IX. 4-6, XI. 9; Hunter
Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 5), and a very fine AV octadrachm, perhaps struck
at Ephesus, with obv. Head of Berenice II veiled, and rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ
ΒΕΡΕΝΙΚΗΣ Cornucopia filleted, symbol, Bee (Fig. 377). On grounds of
style Regling (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 364) dates the octadrachm to B.C. 258, when
the heir to the throne, hitherto associated with his father in the government, married Berenice II, the only daughter of Magas, and resigned the
co-regency in order to become ruler of the Cyrenaïca.


Ptolemy III (Euergetes), B.C. 246-221, brought the Cyrenaïca once
again into close union with Egypt through his accession. According to
Svoronos (Nos. 937-61), he continued the dated ‘Arsinoë’ series inaugurated by his father, limiting it, however, to AR decadrachms, which were
issued annually till the close of his reign (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 5). Possibly,
too, he was responsible for some of the AV octadrachms of the ΘΕΩΝ
ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ class (Svoronos, No. 934). A quarrel with Seleucus II led him
to invade the latter’s Eastern dominions in person, leaving Berenice to
govern Egypt and control the operations of the fleet. It may be to his
prolonged absence that we owe a notable set of coins (Svoronos, Nos. 962-82,
986-94), which are doubtless the Βερενικεια νομισματα of Pollux (Onom.,
ix. 84). The weight is Attic, [1] perhaps an indication that they were
called for by the exigencies of the war in Asia Minor, and the types are:
obv. Head of Berenice II; rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΒΕΡΕΝΙΚΗΣ Cornucopia,
with two stars on AV and two pilei on AR (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIII. 4-6). The
following denominations are known—AV decadrachms, pentadrachms, 2½drachms, , ½ drachms, and ¼ drachms; AR dodecadrachms. (?), pentadrachms, 2½ drachms. Along with
these go eight denominations of Æ of the usual Ptolemaic types and with
inscription ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, but having generally a cornucopia
on the rev., either in front of the eagle or over its wing.


1 It has been generally supposed to be Phoenician. The larger denominations might
be so explained, but not the drachms and ½ drachms. It should be observed that this departure
from the normal standard was only temporary. All the other coins of Euergetes are of
Phoenician weight.

The close of the struggle is perhaps marked by Βερενικεια νομισματα of
Phoenician weight (Svoronos, Nos. 983 f. and 1113-16)—AV octadrachms.
(Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 13) and ½ drachms, AR decadrachms (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XIII. 3), and tetradrachms. (Imhoof MG., Pl. J. 12). These pieces
have some affinity with rare AV drachms, AR tetradrachms., and Æ (Svoronos,
Nos. 995-1000), all presenting a diademed or laureate portrait of
Ptolemy III (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XII. 2). The king appears again on an
interesting group of AV (Svor., Nos. 1117-19 and 1184), where he figures
in the triple guise of Zeus, Helios, and Poseidon:—




FIG. 378.




Bust of Ptolemy III, radiate, wearing
aegis, and carrying trident combined
with scepter (Fig. 378).
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Cornucopia, filleted and radiate.
AV Octadrachms, Tetradrachms, and Drachms



Five denominations of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1005-9) with rev. Cultus-statue of Aphrodite (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XI. 1 f.) may have been struck in
Cyprus or in Rhodes (Νομ. Πτολ., i, pp. σοδ ff., and iv, pp. 199 f.; Z. f. N.,
xxv, p. 366). In Phoenicia and Palestine Euergetes continued, for the
first six years of his reign, the issue of dated AV ‘Arsinoë’ octadrachms
and AR ‘Soter’ tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 2, X. 1) which Philadelphus had begun; see Svoronos, Nos. 1011-45. Svoronos (Nos. 1047-57)
attributes to the same district Æ with obv. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΒΕΡΕΝΙΚΗΣ,
Bust of Berenice, and rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, Eagle or Cornucopia. There are other ‘Soter’ tetradrachms (Svoronos, Nos. 1001 and
1089-1112) which probably belong to this king, particularly those dated
from the ‘Era of Soter’ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXV. 3-7).


Ptolemy IV (Philopator), B.C. 221-204, a weak and dissolute ruler,
was largely in the hands of favorites. Extant inscriptions (Strack,
Dyn. der Ptol., pp. 237 ff., Nos. 55-8, 66) point to his having been
closely associated with the worship of Sarapis and Isis. Svoronos may
therefore well be right (Nos. 1123 f. and 1136) in ascribing to him the
following:—




Heads of Sarapis and Isis, jugate.
[BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVIII. 8.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle
on fulmen; cornucopia on wing.
AR Tetradrachm



Some of these tetradrachms have ΔΙ on the rev. The AV ‘Arsinoë’
octadrachm (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 14) and AR and Æ of
ordinary types, also with ΔΙ, may possibly be contemporary (Svor., Nos.
1120-2, 1125-30). Svor., No. 1139, has the king’s own portrait:—




FIG. 379.




Bust of Ptolemy IV, diademed, wearing
chlamys (Fig. 379).
ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ
Eagle on fulmen. AV Octadrachm.



Attached to the preceding is a group of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1140-52)
with various types (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXII. 18 f.; BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XVIII. 5). Another interesting class, which may be Cyprian (Svor.,
Nos. 1159-62), presents a portrait of the queen:—




FIG. 380.




Bust of Arsinoë III, wearing stephane; scepter over shoulder (Fig. 380).
ΑΡΣΙΝΟΗΣ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ Cornucopia filleted; above, star.
AV Octadrachm.



The Æ with like types read ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ. Rare AV
‘ Arsinoë’ octadrachms which Svoronos places here (Nos. 1163-5),
believing them to have been struck on the occasion of Philopator's
marriage, show stylistic divergences which render his hypothesis difficult
to accept (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 2 f.). A remarkable class,
some of which bear mint-marks (Tyre, Sidon, Ascalon, and Ptolemaïs),
others regnal dates (= B.C. 219 and 218), is characterized by the presence
of ΣΩ, probably indicating Sosibius, Philopator’s chief minister (Svoronos,
Nos. 1177-95). Besides AV octadrachms similar to Fig. 379 (Hunter
Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 5 f.) and Æ of ordinary types, it contains several
varieties of AR tetradrachms—(α) Obv. Bust of Ptolemy IV, Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΟΡΟΣ, Eagle
on fulmen (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIV. 9 f.); (β) Obv. Head of Ptolemy I, Rev.
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ or ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ, Similar;
(γ) Obv. Heads of Sarapis and Isis, jugate, Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ, Similar. The series of ‘Soter’ tetradrachms with ‘Soter’
dates was reinforced by didrachms in B.C. 221 (Svoronos, Nos. 1205-14),
and after B.C. 210 only the didrachms seem to have been issued (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXV. 8 f.). Another innovation, perhaps due to Philopator, is
a series of AR, chiefly didrachms, of Cyprian fabric and Dionysiac
character (Svoronos, Nos. 1785-1812). This extended over several reigns, but the coins cannot be distributed with any confidence between the
different kings (see Z. f. N., xxv, pp. 391 ff.). The types are:—




Bust of king as Dionysos, wearing
diadem and ivy-wreath; over shoulder,
thyrsos. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIV. 6 f.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle
on fulmen; wings open.
AR Didrachm, Drachm, and ½ Drachm



Ptolemy V (Epiphanes), B.C. 204-181, came to the throne a mere child.
His reign was disastrous; all foreign possessions were lost except Cyprus
and the Cyrenaïca, Phoenicia and Palestine being annexed by Antiochus
III, whose daughter, Cleopatra, Ptolemy subsequently married. His coins
betray no trace of the great monetary change to which the contemporary
papyri bear witness (see supra, p. 846). For the first decade the issue of
‘Soter’ didrachms with dates (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXV. 10) appears to have
been continued (Svoronos, Nos. 1215-28). Svoronos further attributes to
this king (Nos. 1230 f.) AR octadrachms (Z. f. N., xxi, Pl. VI. 9) and
tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXIV. 7) with the types of Ptolemy I, and
likewise small AR uninscribed (No. 1232) with obv. Head of Isis, and AE
(Nos. 1233-40) with obv. Head of Isis (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXII. 5 f.) or of
Alexander (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXIII. 10), while it is to the tenth anniversary
of the marriage of Epiphanes and Cleopatra that he would assign (Nos.
1241 f.) the earliest of the ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδων‘ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 8).
These attributions are all more or less conjectural. On the other hand,
AV octadrachms of the ΘΕΩΝ ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ class (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VII. 5 f.) and
AR ‘Soter’ tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVII. 3), both bearing a spear-head as symbol and also a monogram which not improbably represents
the name of Aristomenes, the king’s guardian, were certainly struck by
Epiphanes (Svoronos, Nos. 1247 f., 1250), for symbol and monogram recur
together on rare AR tetradrachms (Svoronos No. 1249) with obv. Bust of
Ptolemy V, rev. ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ Winged fulmen (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXXII. 7). Ordinary Æ with the same monogram (Svoronos, Nos.
1251-3) are probably contemporary. Monograms also link together
the members of another group (Svoronos, Nos. 1254-66) which, in addition
to tetradrachms with the head of Soter and very rare Æ, includes




Bust of Ptolemy V, radiate; spear over
shoulder. [BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVII. 1 f.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Cornucopia, radiate, between stars.
AV Octadrachm.

Bust of Ptolemy V, diademed.

[‘Late Collector,’ Sale-Cat., 1900,
Pl. X. 478.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle
on fulmen. AR Tetradrachm.



A very similar series (Svoronos, Nos. 1269-84), with regnal dates (to
B.C. 195) and ΝΙ between the eagle’s legs, shows that Epiphanes did not
at once discard the types of his parents. Besides AV octadrachms and
AR tetradrachms with the bust of Ptolemy V (Fig. 381), it contains AR




FIG. 381


tetradrachms with the bust of Ptolemy IV, and one or two AV octadrachms
of Arsinoë III similar to Fig. 380 but with ΝΙ in the field. Even without
dates, the youthful representation of Epiphanes would suffice to show that
the preceding belong to the early part of the reign. A series of AR tetradrachms (Svoronos, Nos. 1285-94 and 1296-9) with types similar to Fig. 381,
and with ΝΙ, bears the mint-marks of Berytus, Tripolis, Tyre, Byblus, etc.,
and must therefore have ceased c. B.C. 200, when Antiochus III
occupied these towns. Ultimately the area of mintage was greatly
restricted. But a prominent place always belonged to Cyprus, where
there had been begun in the first year of the reign an issue of coins bearing regnal dates preceded by the symbol L (see supra, p. 847). Among
these Cyprian pieces (Svoronos, Nos. 1302-73) are a few AV ‘Arsinoë’
octadrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. VIII. 6) and some very scarce Æ. The great
majority, however, are AR tetradrachms of the usual types [1] with
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIV. 2, XVI. 2, 4-8), and in
this form the series was destined to last as long as the dynasty itself.
The usual mint-marks are ΠΑ (Paphos), ΣΑ (Salamis), ΚΙ (Citium), and
ΑΜ (Amathus).


Ptolemy VI (Philometor), B.C. 181-146, was at first under the guardianship of his mother Cleopatra. To the period of her regency (B.C. 181-174) Svoronos assigns, besides Cyprian AR (Nos. 1388-93), a group of AE
of the usual types (Nos. 1375-9), having Κ between the eagle’s legs
(Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 15; BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XVI. 10, XVIII. 3,
XXVI. 3), and also another (Nos. 1380- 2) with ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ
ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ on obv. and ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ on rev. (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXVI. 7, XXIII. 3, XVIII. 7). To the latter he attaches, in virtue of
a monogram, yet a third group (Nos. 1383-7), on which the name of
the queen does not occur (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXI. 3, XVI. 3). The fore going
were distributed by Poole over three different reigns, a proceeding for
which strong stylistic arguments might be adduced.


On Cleopatra’s death the regency passed into the hands of Eulaeus,
whose name (ΕΥΛ) is found on the rev. of five denominations of Æ (Svoronos,
Nos. 1395-1402). He and his colleague Lenaeus conceived the ambitious
design of recovering Phoenicia and Palestine for Egypt. The result was
an invasion of the Nile delta by Antiochus IV, who assumed the ‘protection’ of his young nephew, countermarking many of the ΕΥΛ coins
with the Seleucid anchor (BMC Ptolemies, p. 81, Nos. 20 ff.), and even issuing an
Egyptian currency (AR and AE) in his own name (see supra, p. 763). The
populace declined to submit to Syrian domination, and promptly transferred the crown (B.C. 170) to the younger son of Epiphanes, afterwards
Ptolemy VIII. A reconciliation between the brothers followed, and in
the end Roman intervention compelled Antiochus to withdraw. For a
few years the two Ptolemies reigned jointly, but in B.C. 164 the Cyrenaïca
was definitely handed over to the younger as his special sphere. Svoronos
may be right (Nos. 1423-8) in attributing to the joint-reign six
denominations of Æ with rev. Two eagles (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVI. 8 f., 12),


1 In his text (Νομ. Πτολ., i, p. τνθ, and iv, p. 274) Svoronos attributes to Cyprus a tetradrachm with the head of Epiphanes, which in his Catalogue (No. 1291) he had given to
Ptolemaïs or Joppa. Otherwise the head of Ptolemy I is universal on the AR tetradrachms
of this series, although his interpretation of the type as a symbol of divided sovereignty
seems fanciful, seeing that it occurs not infrequently at other times.


The Cyprian issues which commenced under Epiphanes were doubtless
continued under Philometor. But it is impossible to be sure that the
precise coins of this series ascribed to him by Svoronos (Nos. 1388-93,
1431-85)—whether AV octadrachms (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXXIII. 18)
or AR tetradrachms (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIX. 1, 5-7)—are really his. The dates
would also suit his brother, who was at once his contemporary and his
successor. There are other pieces of even more doubtful attribution, such
as the ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘ (Svoronos, No. 1498). Against these may be set
a highly interesting AR tetradrachm (Svoronos, No. 1486), regarding which
there is no possibility of question. It was struck at Ptolemaïs c. B.C.
148, when Philometor intervened in the struggle between Alexander
Bala and Demetrius II:—




Head of Ptolemy VI, diademed.

[BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXXII. 8.]
ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ
ΦΙΛΟΜΗΤΟΡΟΣ Eagle on fulmen;
on wing, stalk of corn.



Ptolemy VII (Eupator), B.C. 146, was murdered at his uncle’s instigation almost immediately upon his accession. Although he seems to have
left no coins of his own, an AR Cyprian tetradrachm dated LΑϚ ΚΑΙ Α
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXXII. 9) is perhaps a relic of the brief period during
which he was associated with his father in the kingdom, the thirty-sixth
year of Philometor being the first of Eupator. [1]


Ptolemy VIII (Euergetes II), B.C. 170-116, surnamed Physcon, did
not really become monarch until B.C. 146, when he returned from
Cyrene and succeeded his murdered nephew. But he always reckoned
his regnal years from his first proclamation by the Egyptians. Among
the coins of the ordinary Cyprian series which are given to him by
Svoronos (Nos. 1501-1620), those with dates between 37 (LΛΖ) and 54
(LΝΔ) must certainly be his (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXI. 10 f., XXII. 4, XXIII.
1 f., 4-7), for no other among the later kings reigned for more than thirty-six years. As regards the rest, it is not possible to discriminate accurately
between his issues and those of his brother, except in the case of Very
scarce didrachms of the year 33 (Svoronos, No. 1507). These bear a radiate
head which is clearly not that of Philometor, and therefore presumably
represents Physcon. Another attribution that is scarcely doubtful is
the dated Æ (Nos. 1621-32) with a lotus-flower in the field of the rev.
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XX. 4 f.). Similar Æ undated (Svoronos, Nos. 1636-9) may
well be his also (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XIX. 3). Both the last-mentioned seem
to have been minted in Cyprus, and it is possibly from the same island
that there come several denominations of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1640-56) with
rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ Double cornucopia
(BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXIV. 1) or Eagle (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXII. 7-9). Svoronos'
attribution (Nos. 1499 f.) of ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘ to B.C. 134 (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. VIII. 10) is only a surmise. On the other hand, two denominations
of Æ (Svoronos, Nos. 1657 f) with rev. Head of Libya must belong to


1 This view is, however, rejected by Svoronos (No. 1509) who explains the legend
differently (Νομ. Πτολ., i. p. τ-β, and iv, pp. 305 f.).

Physcon, if the monogram they bear is to be resolved into ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ.
They are obviously Cyrenaean, and Regling suggests that they may
have been struck B.C. 164-146, while Ptolemy VIII was still merely
regent of the Cyrenaïca (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 385).


Ptolemy IX (Neos Philopator), B.C. 121-117, has left no coins. He
predeceased his father, after having been co-regent for a year or two.


Ptolemy X (Soter II, Lathyrus), Cleopatra III, and Ptolemy XI
(Alexander I), B.C. 116-80, fill a very confused page of Egyptian
history (Νομ. Πτολ., i. pp. υζ ff., and iv, pp. 320 ff.; Z. f. N., xxv,
pp. 385 ff.). Ptolemy VIII left the regency to his widow Cleopatra III.
She would have preferred to have the younger of the princes as a
colleague, but was only able to secure for him the governorship of
Cyprus, his appointment to which, however, in B.C. 114 he always
regarded as the beginning of his reign as Ptolemy XI. His elder brother
reckons his regnal years, like Cleopatra, from the death of Physcon.
In B.C. 107 Alexander returned to Egypt, forced his brother to withdraw,
and established himself in his stead. In B.C. 101 he murdered Cleopatra,
with whom he had up till now reigned jointly, and in the same year he
acknowledged his brother as king of Cyprus. Lathyrus ruled Cyprus
till B.C. 88, when Alexander died. He then came back to Alexandreia,
and reigned undisturbed till his death in B.C. 80. The only AR coins of
this period that can be attributed with perfect certainty are tetradrachms of the Cyprian class with ΠΑ (Svoronos, Nos. 1727-31), struck
between B.C. 106 and 101. They bear double dates that can only
represent the regnal years of Cleopatra and of Alexander (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXVIII. 1 f.). The remainder of the dated AR falls into three groups:
(a) Svoronos, Nos. 1659-88: tetradrachms, and very rare didrachms, drachms and ½ drachms,
with ΠΑ and dates from LΑ to LΛC (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVI. 4-6, XXVII.
I f., etc.); (β) Svoronos, Nos. 1689-93: tetradrachms., with ΠΑ or ΣΑ and dates from
LΙΗ to LΚΖ (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVII. 3, XXXII. 10); (γ) Svoronos, Nos. 1734-84: tetradrachms, with ΠΑ, ΣΑ, or ΚΙ and dates from LΑ to LΙ (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXVI. 2, XXVII. 5-8). On the difficulty of distributing these
among the different claimants see Z. f. N., xxv, pp. 386 ff. The task
would be simpler if it were certain when ΠΑ ceased to have a purely
local significance and came to be placed on coins minted at Alexandreia,
as it undoubtedly was later. There are Æ pieces (Svoronos, Nos. 1717-22) with rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ (ΣΩ, ΣΩ ΘΕ)
Eagle, Double cornucopia, or Head-dress of Isis (BMC Ptolemies, XXVI. 10 f.),
which must have been struck by Ptolemy X. Other Æ (Svoronos, Nos.
1694-1716, and 1724 f.) are more uncertain, as are the ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘
which Svoronos (No. 1726) believes to have been issued in B.C. 107 on
the twentieth anniversary of Cleopatra’s marriage. Ptolemy Apion, a
natural son of Physcon, was regent in Cyrene for some part of the
period under discussion, but his coins cannot now be identified.


Ptolemy XII (Alexander II), B.C. 80, son of Ptolemy XI, reigned only
nineteen days. Svoronos (Nos. 1732 f.) assigns to Alexander I and
Cleopatra III the Æ that used to be attributed to Alexander II and
Cleopatra Berenice III, or to Ptolemy Apion (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXVIII. 9).

Ptolemy XIII (Neos Dionysos), B.C. 80-58 and 55-51, surnamed
Auletes, a natural son of Ptolemy XI, had a long but troubled reign.
The coins usually given to him are AR tetradrachms of singularly base




FIG. 382.


metal, with ΠΑ and a head-dress of Isis in the field of the rev. (Fig. 382).
They fall into two series: (α) Svoronos, Nos. 1815-35, with dates from
LΑ to LΚΒ; (β) Svoronos, Nos. 1836-40, with dates from LΚΖ to LΛ. It
is generally supposed that the gap indicates the king’s exile. Regling,
however, gives series (a) to the next reign (q. v.). A portrait of Auletes
appears on a very rare drachm struck in B.C. 53 (Svoronos, No. 1838).
Svoronos’ further attributions (Nos. 1841 and 1845) of ‘χρυσα δεκαετηριδος‘ (BMC Ptolemies, pl. VIII. 9) and Æ to the time of Auletes are
altogether conjectural.


Cleopatra VII, B.C. 51-30, daughter of Auletes, was the dominating
personality throughout the closing years of the dynasty. Her brothers,
 Ptolemy XIV and XV, and her son, Ptolemy XVI (Caesarion), were no
more than puppets. Svoronos (Nos. 1847-52, 1854-70) ascribes to
her a series of AR of the usual types, with dates from LΑ to LΚΓ (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXIX. 4-8), which Feuardent and Poole had given to a younger
brother of Auletes, who was at one time king in Cyprus. Regling prefers
to assign these to Auletes himself (Z. f. N., xxv, p. 393 f.), substituting
them for series (α) described above, which he attributes to Cleopatra,
thus making the tetradrachms with the head-dress of Isis a continuous
series, divided between two monarchs. A strong argument in favor of
this arrangement is the occurrence of the same symbol, also with ΠΑ,
on a remarkable drachm (Svoronos, No. 1853), struck in the year B.C. 46,
and bearing a portrait of Cleopatra (BMC Ptolemies, Pl. XXX. 5). Very special
interest centers round a group of Æ with obv. Head of Cleopatra, rev.
ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ, Eagle on fulmen (Svoronos, Nos. 1871 f.).
There are two denominations marked Π and Μ respectively (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXX. 7 f.). Regling (Z. f. N., xxiii, pp. 115 f.) has proved conclusively
that these letters are numerals (= 80 and 40), denoting the number of
copper drachm that each denomination contained (see supra, p. 846).
Apparently at this time the copper drachma weighed only 4 or 5 grains.
On Æ struck probably in Cyprus (Svoronos, No. 1874) the queen appears as
Aphrodite with the infant Caesarion as Eros in her arms (BMC Ptolemies,
Pl. XXX. 6). Her union with M. Antonius meant the recovery by Egypt
of its lost dominion over Phoenicia and Palestine. Hence the issue at
Ascalon (see supra, p. 804) of AR tetradrachms with Cleopatra’s portrait.
These represent a revival of the old Phoenician coinage of the Seleucid
kings (see supra, p. 765), just as the Æ pieces of Berytus, Tripolis, and Damascus on which her head occurs (Hunter Cat., iii, Pl. LXXV. 1)
represent a revival of the municipal coinage originally inaugurated by
Antiochus IV (see supra, p. 763). For AR tetradrachms with heads of
Cleopatra and M. Antonius see Antiocheia ad Orontem, p. 778.


ii. EGYPT UNDER THE ROMANS