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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 
348, Lot: 82. Estimate $100.
Sold for $627. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy VI Philometor. First sole reign, 180-170 BC. Æ Octobol (45mm, 102.41 g, 12h). Cyprus mint. Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right / Eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; lotus flower in left field. Svoronos 1403; Lorber, Lotus Series IV.1 var. (Σ or ΣE between legs) or VII.1 var. (eagle’s legs completely feathered); Weiser 70 (Ptolemy III); SNG Copenhagen –; Noeske –. Near VF, dark brown patina with reddish earthen highlights/deposits.


From the J. P. Righetti Collection, 100.

An enigmatic coin that doesn’t fit into Cathy Lorber’s classification scheme in her Lotus article cited above. The eagle on this specimen clearly does not have heavily feathered legs (Series IV.1), but it is missing the Σ or ΣE control between the eagle’s legs. And Lorber’s Series VII.1, which she references to Svoronos 1403, clearly has the eagle’s legs completely feathered to its feet.

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 The first of Cathy’s books on the Ptolemaic coinage, which will supplant the long outdated Svoronos, is imminently forthcoming, and we would like to thank her for reviewing this special offering.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.