Description
| Greek. Ptolemaic Kings. Ptolemy VI (180-145 BC). Didrachm, 154/3 BC, uncertain mint in Cyprus. | |
| Obverse: | Diademed head of Ptolemaios I right wearing an aegis around the neck. |
| Reverse: | ΠΤΟΛEMAIOY ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩ[Σ]. Eagle standing left with closed wings on thunderbolt, in the left field P, in the right field Θ (PΘ = year 109),[on thunderbolt Є]. |
| Dimensions: | AR, 7.00 g, 22 mm, 1h. |
| References: | Svoronos 1216; SNG Copenhagen 556. |
| Condition: | Attractive dark toning, unregular flan, minor die break on the obverse. Almost extremely fine. |
| Comment: | The correct mint and date of this issue is still unclear. Although this coinage is usually assigned to Arados, Lorber argues for a Cypriotic mint, probably Arsinoe near Salamis (Lorber, „The Ptolemaic era coinage revisited,“ NC (2007), 105–17 pp.). Though the era is uncertain, a starting date of 262/1 BC has been accepted by Lorber and most scholars. |
