Coin possibly Ptolemy II Philadelphos, Phoenicia 285–262 B.C.
References: Poole, R. S., Catalogue of Greek coins: the Ptolemies, kings of Egypt, London: BMP, 1883, p. 16, 27.33; Svoronos, I. N., Τα Νομισματα του Κρατους των Πτολεμαιων (The Coins of the Ptolemaic Kings), Sakellarios, Athens, 1904, nn. 203, 338, 631, 719, 722, 918, 920; 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; Lorber, C., Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire I: Ptolemy I through Ptolemy IV, New York: American Numismatic Society, 2018.
Silver stater. On the obverse, diademed head of Ptolemy I Soter I (305-283 BC) or Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285/4-246 BC, “sibling-loving”) because he married his full sister, Arsinoë II, facing right and wearing aegis / Eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ (Basileos) “King” or “Emperor”. In left field, ΣΙ monogram above Μ; conied in Sidon (Phoenicia) probably ca. 275/4 B.C.
Date: 285–262 B.C.
Parallels: very similar example London, British Museum 1864,1118.29, compare with 1845,0705, 1864,1118.35, 1871,0702.2, 1871,0702.12, 1878,0301.253.
Photo by Steve Morton