Unique and Unpublished Provincial Issue

Triton XIV, Lot: 390. Estimate $10000. Sold for $32500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoë II, wife of Ptolemy II. Died 270 BC. AV Mnaieion – “Oktadrachm” (27mm, 27.75 g, 12h). Paphos(?) mint. Struck under Ptolemy II or III, circa 253/2-241 BC. Head right, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter behind / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦ[OY], double cornucopia bound with fillet; below, star above Π. Unpublished. Good VF, a little die wear and die rust, a few light marks. Unique provincial issue.

Although this type is unpublished, the style of the obverse is nearly identical to two other mnaieia, attributed to Paphos (Troxell, Arsinoe n. 39 = Svoronos pl. XV, 2) and Salamis (Troxell, Arsinoe p. 64 = Benha 11). Also, the combination of symbol and mint signature is typical for these Ptolemaic issues of Cyprus.