CNG 102, Lot: 665. Estimate $300. Sold for $300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy VI Philometor. 180-145 BC. AR Didrachm (22.5mm, 6.90 g, 1h). Uncertain mint in Cyprus. Dated year 106 of an uncertain era (157/6 BC). Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis around neck / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; Pς (date) on thunderbolt (barely visible). Svoronos 1213, pl. XXXVIII, 12 (same obv. die); Mørkholm, Ptolemaic 217–20 (obv. die A13 [Arados]); SNG Copenhagen 552; DCA 76. Good VF, toned, some light porosity.

From the estate of Thomas Bentley Cederlind. Ex Gorny & Mosch 134 (11 October 2004), lot 1743.

The mint and era of this enigmatic coinage has been much debated. For the most recent discussion, see C. Lorber, “The Ptolemaic era coinage revisited,” NC (2007), pp. 105–17. Although this issue is traditionally assigned to Arados, Lorber argues for a Cypriot mint, perhaps Arsinoe near Salamis. Although the era is uncertain, a starting date of 262/1 BC has been accepted by Lorber and most scholars.