348, Lot: 47. Estimate $150. Sold for $650. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Berenike II, wife of Ptolemy III. Circa 244/3-221 BC. Æ Tetrachalkon (15mm, 4.36 g, 12h). Lebedos (Ptolemaïs) mint. Struck circa 240-222 BC. Veiled head right of Berenike II / Triptolemos seated left, holding grain ears and poppy with right hand and scepter with left; magistrate’s name behind, ΠΤ[Ο] before. Svoronos 921; Kinns 25; Weiser –; SNG Copenhagen –; Noeske –. VF, dark green to black patina. Very rare.

From the J. P. Righetti Collection, 048.

In the Third Syrian War (246-241 BC), Ptolemy III wrested control of a number of cities in western Asia Minor from the Seleukids. Lebedos was one such city, which Ptolemy subsequently refounded as Ptolemaïs. Only a handful of these Ptolemaic coins of Lebedos are known, and their attribution to this mint is based primarily on their findspots and the presence of a grape bunch (a symbol of Lebedos) symbol on the silver coinage. Although Ptolemaic tetradrachms of all mints typically feature an idealized portrait of Ptolemy I Soter on the obverse, these coins of Lebedos exhibit a portrait whose features are quite different and more realistic, suggesting they are actually a portrait of Ptolemy III.

CNG is pleased to offer a large selection of Ptolemaic coins from the J. P. Righetti Collection. This group of coins is mostly comprised of diverse varieties of bronze issues from the beginning to the end of the Ptolemaic kingdom. The classification of many Ptolemaic bronze issues has been highly debated among numismatists, often with researchers publishing highly divergent attributions to various kings, and also in the naming of the denominations used. For this selection, we generally followed the attributions and denominations given on Dan Wolf’s website, www.ptolemybronze.com, who has been closely working with noted numismatic scholar, Catharine Lorber. The first of Cathy’s books on the Ptolemaic coinage, which will supplant the long outdated Svoronos, is imminently forthcoming, and we would like to thank her for reviewing this special offering. Her conclusions regarding each coin’s issuer, denomination, and mint are followed herein.