Ancient Gold - Greek

Lot 3133    SESSION 7 (9.30AM THURSDAY 30TH JULY)    Ancient Gold - Greek

Estimate $20,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $18,000

EGYPT, Kingdom of, Ptolemy III Euergetes, (246-222 B.C.), gold octadrachm or mnaeion, (27.82 g), Alexandria mint, commemorative issue struck under Ptolemy IV 221-205 B.C. obv. radiate diadem bust of Ptolemy III to right, wearing aegis with trident over left shoulder, middle prong ends in lotus finial, dotted border, rev. radiate and filleted cornucopiae, **DI* below dotted border, around **PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS*, (S.7825, Sv.1117, BMC 103-4 [p.56], SNG Cop.196). Well centred, extremely fine, with underlying mint bloom, very rare.

Ex Robert Tonner Collection. Previously Freeman & Sear, 24 April 2009, with ticket.
Ptolemy IV struck an extensive series of octadrachms for his father Ptolemy III, portraying him with the divine attributes of Helios (with the radiate diadem), Zeus (the aegis), and Poseidon (the trident and with the middle prong modified with the addition of the Egyptian lotus tip). The concentration of such symbols is intended to show Ptolemy III as the master of the three elements: heaven, earth and sea. The radiate crown above the cornucopia on the reverse is another distinctive feature of Ptolemy III's iconography, and was later adopted by his grandson, Ptolemy V.