Sale: CNG 72, Lot: 991. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 14 June 2006.  Sold For $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter. As satrap, 323-305 BC. AR Drachm (2.83 g, 12h). Uncertain standard. Alexandreia mint. Stuck in the name of Alexander III of Macedon, circa 311 BC. Diademed head of Alexander right, wearing elephant's skin headdress / Athena Alkidemos advancing right; to right, eagle standing right on thunderbolt above DI. Svoronos 34; Zervos Issue XIII; cf. SNG Copenhagen 14 (tetradrachm). Good VF, toned, some die rust, areas of minor roughness, nick in field on reverse. Rare.

From the Robert A. Weimer Collection.

While struck contemporary with the Attic weight tetradrachms, the drachms were all struck to an unknown lighter standard, averaging around 3.5 grams.

See K. Lorber, “A Revised Chronology of the Coins of Ptolemy I” (NC 2005), for the revised dating of the issues of Ptolemy I.