PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AV Mnaïeion – ‘Oktadrachm’ (28mm, 27.75 g, 11h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 254/3-253/2 BC. NGC AU, 5/5, 2/5, Fine Style, brushed.

CNG Feature Auction 129
Lot: 347.
Closing Date: May 14 2025 11:00 ET

Greek, Gold

Estimate: $ 10 000

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PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Arsinoe II Philadelphos. Died 270/268 BC. AV Mnaïeion – ‘Oktadrachm’ (28mm, 27.75 g, 11h). Alexandreia mint. Struck under Ptolemy II, circa 254/3-253/2 BC. Head right, with ram’s horn, veiled and wearing stephane; lotus-tipped scepter in background, H to left / APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopia, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet. CPE 387; Svoronos 459; Olivier & Lorber H dies 1/4, 29–30; Troxell, Arsinoe, Transitional to Group 3, p. 43, and pl. 6, 1 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen –; Benha 2 (same dies); Boston MFA 2267 (same obv. die); Hunterian 10 (same obv. die); Noeske –. In NGC encapsulation 6829237-001, graded AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 2/5, Fine Style, brushed. Extremely rare with ˙ control, only nine examples noted by Olivier & Lorber, this the only additional example in CoinArchives.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 140 (7 November 2023), lot 185.

Arsinoe II, daughter of Ptolemy I and Berenike I, was born in 316 BC. Her early life saw her married off to Lysimachos of Thrace at the age of 15 and then to her half-brother, the brutal Ptolemy Keraunos. She conspired against the latter and was forced to flee circa 280 BC to the protection of Egypt, ruled by her younger full brother, Ptolemy II. Her beauty, charm and intelligence utterly captivated Ptolemy, and, after eliminating his previous wife with an accusation of treason, Arsinoe married her brother, probably about 276 BC. Sibling marriage was traditional among Egyptian royalty but among the Greeks it was known only among deities; thus their union advanced the concept of rulers being worshipped as divinities. Though unscrupulous, Arsinoe proved a capable queen and co-ruler, taking charge of Egypt’s foreign affairs. Her death in 270 or 268 BC was marked by her full deification and a huge outpouring of gold coinage bearing her veiled portrait. The ram’s horn just visible emerging from the veil is a further symbol of her deification, reminiscent of the horn of Ammon on images of the deified Alexander.

The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 13 May at 9 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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