★ Ex Pozzi Collection, Naville 1, 1921 ★

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Arsinoe II (wife of Ptolemy II) AR Dekadrachm. Alexandria, posthumous issue under Ptolemy II, circa 253/2 BC. Veiled head of deified Arsinoe with ram’s horn to right, wearing diademed stephane, sceptre surmounted by lotus over left shoulder; eight-rayed star (as banker’s mark) above Ω in left field / Double cornucopiae, grape bunches hanging at sides, bound with fillet; AΡΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY around. CPE 342; Svoronos 518 (dated 247/6 BC; two specimens listed); Troxell, 'Arsinoe’s Non-Era' in Museum Notes 28 (1983), p. 43, pl. 6, 4 (this coin). 35.62g, 35mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; attractive dark cabinet tone. Previously NGC graded XF★ 5/5 - 4/5 (4372344-001). Extremely Rare; only two specimens listed by Svoronos.

This coin published in H. A. Troxell, ‘Arsinoe’s Non-Era’ in Museum Notes Volume 28 (American Numismatic Society, 1983);
Ex WTR Collection, Heritage World Coin Auctions, Dallas Signature Sale 3102, 2 November 2022, lot 31029;
Ex Charles H. Deetz Collection of Ancient Roman and Greek Gold and Silver Coins also Foreign Gold Coins, part I, Stack’s, 9 November 1946, lot 255;
Ex Prof. Samuel-Jean Pozzi Collection (1846-1918) Collection, Naville, Auction 1, 4 April 1921, lot 3226.

The present dekadrachm belongs to the new coinage, struck by Ptolemy II in honour of his wife Arsinoe II after her death on 9 July 270.