ORC8722 Egypt AE36 VF ctmk, NR
US $38.00
Mar-10-03


Ptolemaic Egypt, Ptolemy III, c. 250 Æ36 hemidrachm, (43.29g) Diademed and
horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / PTOLEMAIOY BASILEWS Eagle standing left
on thunderbolt, head turned, wing open, rectangular countermark of
cornucopia before, P between legs. S 7785var. VF, brown patina, with areas
of red.

Ptolemy III reduced the value of an obol from about 16 grams of copper per
obol, to 12. This countermark probably revaluated an old hemidrachm as a
tetrobol. A trident countermark appears on similar period smaller
denominations, presumably a related revaluation.