CNG 91, Lot: 1726. Estimate $1000. Sold for $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

20th Dynasty. Circa 1185-1170 BC. Blue glazed steatite scarab (18x13mm). Base inscribed with the praenomen of Pharaoh Sethnakht. Cf. Hall I, 2302; Matouk I, 721-722. Intact, pierced for mounting. A pleasant specimen with a good pedigree.

From the Dr. John N. Winnie Collection. Ex R. J. Upton Collection; Sotheby’s (2-10 December 1993), lot 332; Numismatic Fine Arts (11 December 1991), lot 147; Duke of Northumberland Collection (Sotheby’s, 21 April 1975), lot 64 (part of).

Sethnakt (circa 1185-1182 BC) was the first pharaoh of the 20th dynasty. We have little information on how he came to the throne, following the confused end of the 19th dynasty, and about his reign. The best source is the Great Harris papyrus, which gives us an account of Sethnakt’ s son Ramesses III reign.