GREEK COINS
PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT
Ptolemy IV Philopator, 225-205 BC. Octodrachm (Gold, 26mm, 27.80 g 12), with a portrait of his father, Ptolemy III Euergetes (reigned 246-222), Alexandria. Radiate and diademed bust of the deified Ptolemy III to right, wearing aegis and with trident over his left shoulder. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Radiate cornucopiae bound with royal diadem; below, ΔΙ. BMC 103. Kraay/Hirmer 803. SNG Copenhagen 196. Svoronos 1117. A lustrous, attractive coin. Extremely fine. Ptolemy IV was a relatively unpleasant character who was infamous for the murder of his mother Berenike II. The portrait on this coin is of his far more popular father, Ptolemy III. These coins were actually struck in enormous numbers - Egypt was famous throughout antiquity for its great wealth in gold (it had far smaller silver sources, especially in Pharaonic times) - but the vast majority of them were melted down and reused in ancient times.