Fifth and Finest Known

Sale: Triton X, Lot: 425. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007.  Sold For $4750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Cleopatra VII Thea Neotera. 51-30 BC. Æ 24mm (9.92 g, 11h). Berytos mint. Dated RY 6 (Phoenician; 32/1 BC). Diademed and draped bust right, wearing earring and necklace / Baal of Berytos, holding aphlaston in extended right hand, trident in left, in quadriga of hippocamps right; BH to left, Lz above LAK to right. Svoronos 1887; Weiser -; SNG Copenhagen -; Rouvier 437; RPC I 4530. EF, dark green patina with spots of red-dark brown. Extremely rare, apparently the fifth, and possibly the finest, known.

Mark Antony illegitimately "bestowed" a number of territories in the east on Cleopatra, which were added to her royal dominions, including portions of Phoenicia in 37/6 BC. Accordingly, her regnal years in Phoenicia were reckoned from this date, and are reflected on her coins that were struck there.