Lot 4743

Description

Egypt, Kingdom of Cleopatra VII, (51-30 B.C.), copper eighty drachms (= one silver obol), AE 27, (18.01 g), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed bust of Cleopatra VII to right, line border, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, standing on a thunderbolt, to left cornucopiae, around traces of **KLEOPATRAS BASILISSHS*, to right **P* [= 80], (S.7955, Sear Imperators 948, BMC 4-5, Sv.1871, Weiser 184-5, SNG Cop. 422-4). Evenly worn as usual, nearly very fine with some soil adhesion, rare.

Ex Dr. Adrian Carr Collection and purchased from Guy Clark in 2004, his asking price was for $995 USD. This coin from the UCLA Classics Library collection that was dispersed by UCLA in 2003 with ticket.
The dating of this issue is uncertain, Sear Imperators suggests probably struck late in her reign. Sear goes on to note: 'At some point in her reign - probably in her final years - Cleopatra undertook a reform of the Ptolemaic bronze coinage. Two denominations are represented, both undated but bearing the marks of value **'P'* (=80) and `M' (=40). The ratio between the silver and bronze drachma at this time was probably 480 to I, so the piece of 80 drachmas may be regarded as the equivalent of a silver obol and the 40 drachmas a hemiobol'.