Coin Ptolemy I Soter, 305–283 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, 416, pl. 15, 424; Mørkholm, O., Early Hellenistic Coinage from the Accession of Alexander to the Peace of Apamaea (336-188 BC), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991; 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; 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 I Soter I (305-283 BC). On the obverse, head of deified-Alexander the Great in elephant skin headdress, to represent the last conquest of new territory before his death, India., and wearing aegis, facing right. Open-wing eagle standing left on thunderbolt with inscription ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ (of Ptolemy) on the left field. Distinct monogram between the eagle's legs, the letter A (alpha). On both sides is partially visible the border of dots.
Centering hole 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: 305–283 B.C.
Parallels: similar example London, British Museum 1980,1214.16094, TC,p236.3.PtoIX; for the elephant skin compare with London, British Museum 1876,0505.28, 1885,0505.15; Philadelphia, Penn Museum 29-70-302.
Photo by Steve Morton