Ancient Coins

Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Ptolemy II (285-246), Mnaieion or Octadrachm, Alexandria, c. 253-246, in the name of Arsinoe II, veiled head right, wearing diadem, stephane and ram’s horn, rev. double cornucopiæ bound with royal diadem, 27.88g/11h (Troxell, Arsinoe’s Non-Era, ANSMN 28, 1983, Gp 2, p.42 and pl.3, 1; Svoronos 408 and pl.15, 6; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC p.42, 1 and pl. 8, 1). Good very fine, rare (£4,000-5,000)

Arsinöe II Philadelphos, daughter of Ptolemy I and Berenice I, married Lysimachos, king of Thrace, in about 299/8. After Lysmiachos’ defeat and a short marriage to Ptolemy Keraunos, she fled to Egypt and married her brother Ptolemy II in about 276. After her death in about 270/268, Ptolemy II made his deceased sister one of the most popular goddesses in the Ptolemaic sphere of influence and issued these exceptional mnaieia in her name. These coins, and the associated silver, must have been closely connected to the financial implications of her cult during Alexandria’s Golden Age