Coin Ptolemy IV Philopater, Alexandria 221–205 B.C.
References: Poole, R. S., Catalogue of Greek coins: the Ptolemies, kings of Egypt, London: BMP, 1883; Svoronos, I. N., Τα Νομισματα του Κρατους των Πτολεμαιων (The Coins of the Ptolemaic Kings), Sakellarios, Athens, 1904, nn. 1423, 1126 (one eagle), 1426 (Joint reign of Ptolemy VI and VIII), 1697, 1698; Mørkholm, O., Early Hellenistic Coinage from the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamaea (336-188 BC), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991; Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum (SNG) Copenhagen / Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum: The Royal Collection of coins and medals, Danish National Museum, 311–4 (same); Hazzard, R. A., Ptolemaic Coins: An Introduction for Collectors, Toronto, 1995; Bouyon, B., Depeyrot, G., Desnier, J.-L., Le système et la technologie des monnaies de bronze, Wetteren, 2000; Faucher, T., and Lorber, C., "Bronze Coinage of Ptolemaic Egypt in the Second Century BC", AJN, 2010, pp 35-84, Series 6E; Lorber, C., Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire I: Ptolemy I through Ptolemy IV, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2018.
Coin from the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt; Ptolemy IV Philopator. On the obverse, diademed head of Zeus-Ammon, with ram's horn and tainia, facing right. On the reverse, twin eagles with their wings closed, standing left on thunderbolt, which symbolise Zeus’ divine power; cornucopiae to the left. The inscription reads ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ (“King Ptolemy”). Border of dots on the reverse. Mint, Alexandria, Egypt, Cornucopia Series 5. Cental dimples on both sides. Early coins often have punch holes suggesting they were repeatedly tested to determine their true composition or because of the technical manufacture as they were part of the flan preparation.
Date: 221–205 BC.
Parallels: compare with London, British Museum 2009,4181.15, 2010,4003.6, 2010,4003.7, 2010,4003.9, 2010,4003.10, 2010,4003.11, 2009,4181.11, G.2745 (all with one eagle) and 1971,1207.25 (Ptolemy VI Philometor); Sydney, Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences N6546, N6554 (Ptolemy VI, Philometor and Ptolemy VIII); Chicago, Art Institute Chicago 1923.1192 (Ptolemy X, Soter II); Christchurch, Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities 180.96.10; Jerusalem, The Israel Museum 78.01654 (Ptolemy II); Boston, Museum of Fine Arts 86.830 (Ptolemy X).
Photo by Steve Morton