ORC5843 Ptolemy XII tetr. Cyprus VF
$160.00
May-29-02
Seller   oldromancoins.com


ORC5843 Ptolemy XII tetr. Cyprus VF

Egypt, Ptolemy XII, AR tetradrachm, (10.95g) dated Year 30 = 51 BC, Paphos
Mint, Diademed head of Ptolemy XII right, aegis at neck. / RTOLEMAIOY
BASILEWS Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, LL before, RA behind. S7948;
Svor. 1840. VF

Tetradrachms of the later Ptolemies all have similar types. The obverse
features a diademed head facing right, with a strong chin, usually wearing
an aegis at the neck. Die axis is generally 12:00. The reverse says
"Ptolemy, King" in Greek. To the left of the eagle are L for Year, and one
or two letters which spell out the date in Greek. For example, L IB is Year
10 + 2 = 12 of the reign of the ruler, dated from the ruler's ascension to
power. To the right of the eagle is the mintmark RA, for Paphos, today
sometimes called Neo- or Nea- Paphos because the Ptolemaic city of Paphos
was 10 miles west of the Archaic city.

Svoronos considers the obverse of the coinage of the later Ptolemies to
show a portrait of Ptolemy I Soter, with a dummy RA mintmark was copied in
Alexandria from coins struck at Paphos in prior decades. The argument can
be made that the portraits on these later coins are not of Ptolemy I Soter,
but are contemporary portraits, and that the mintmark actually reflects
where the coin was minted.

After the restoration of Ptolemy XII by the Romans,  quoting Morkholm,
"An elaborate hairstyle now gave a certain charm to the head of Ptolemy
Soter. The hairstyling, remarked Morkholm, 'consisted of several sharply
separated rows of locks arranged alternately, and placed in tiers, one
above the other.'"