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 Replies: 13 / Views: 4,198 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
A few months ago a friend, upon hearing that I was collecting ancient coins, said he would like to have a coin issued by a pharaoh. Hmm. "I don't think there are any", I replied. I hadn't come across any in my whirlwind but voluminous searching, although I hadn't been looking for such a coin. Turns out there are some. Nektanebo II, the last native pharaoh of Egypt, issued coins in bronze, gold, and perhaps silver. Prior to that, Egypt did produce some coins for the purpose of international trading-- imitations of Athens, Attica tets, for instance-- but Nektanebo appears to be the first pharaoh to issue coins for local use. Maybe.  PHARONIC KINGS OF EGYPT, Nektanebo II
360-343 BC
AE
15 mm (4 mm thick), 4.4 gm
Obv: Ram leaping left, head reverted.
Rev: Scales of Ma'at; countermark with helmeted bust right.
Ref: Weiser 1Per a few auction house sales a half decade ago, it seems these bronzes were extremely rare. I wonder if a small horde was recently found because the prices have fallen and there are currently six specimens in retail e-stores and at least two more were auctioned off very recently. There is not universal agreement the issuer, purpose, and location of circulation of these coins. Sellers tout it as the "sole pharonic issue"-- I'm sure that boosts desirability-- but it may not be accurate. Hope it is though. Here is some information about that controversy from CNG, in the description of this coin (one similar to mine), Quote:
Nekht-her-hebet, or Nektanebo II as he was known to the Greeks, was the nephew of Pharaoh Tachos (Djed-her). Placed in command of the Egyptian army in Syria during the Satrapal Revolt, he turned his troops against his own king and took Egypt by force. In 351-350 BC he repelled a Persian invasion but was driven from his throne in 344-343 BC by a second assault. He fled Egypt, found refuge in Ethiopia, and retained control of Upper Egypt for another few years. As the last pharaoh, Alexander sought to connect himself with Nektanebo after conquering Egypt, allowing the rumor that he was in fact his son to spread. Alexander's connection to the pharaoh lasted, and for years the sarcophagus of Nektanebo II, now in the British Museum, was considered to be Alexander's own.
The traditional attribution of this issue to Nektanebo, however enticing, has been increasingly contested. Finds of the coins have been consistently noted outside of Egypt. Kevin Butcher has placed the bronzes at Antioch circa 1st century BC, where the leaping ram imagery would fit well. I wanted this coin for several reasons.
First, well... a pharaoh's coin? That's just cool. Maybe even as cool as Anoob's Buddha coin 
Second, it depicts the Scales of Ma'at. Such a device was used in Jitterbug Perfume, a book by Tom Robbins, one of my favorite authors. In it, at a limbo-like way station, the newly dead have their hearts weighed against a feather. The heart must be light as a feather to move on. I was unaware until seeing this coin that this scene was taken directly from Egyptian mythology.
Third, it is for my oft-mentioned themed collection, almost finished and soon to be unveiled.Nektanebo II, of the 30th Egyptian Dynasty; 360-343 BC-Translated from Egyptian "Nakhthorheb (meryhathor)" or "Nekht-her-hebet" or "Nekht-harhebi" -Alternate spelling Nectanebo -Birth name: Nakht-hor-heb (mery-hathor) "Strong is His Lord Horus, Beloved of Hathor" -Throne name: Snedjem-ib-re Setep-en-inhur "Pleasing to the Heart of Re, Chosen of Onuris"  Additional biographic information about Nektanebo IIhttp://www.touregypt.net/featuresto...ctanebo1.htmAbout Ma'at, the Scales of Ma'at, and the weighing of hearts:http://www.egyptartsite.com/judgement.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maathttp://www.aldokkan.com/religion/hall_maat.htmEdited by ThisIsFun
10/19/2013 12:22 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
As far as I know he is the only native Pharaoh who issued coins. They are the same design struck in gold and silver. There has been long raging debate weather these are actually Egyptian coins, I am not sure what the experts have decided on but it was argued that these coins in fact are from Syria struck during the time of the Seleucid Empire. Regardless of what the experts might think. I would love to own one of these. They can be quite expensive. Your example is awesome. I really enjoy the countermark. I don't seek these coins out, but yours is the first one I can remember having a countermark. The Helmeted bust is quite attractive and I am eager to see what others say.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2480 Posts |
There are two others for sale right now with the same countermark. Vcoins.
Earlier this morning there were 6 other Nektanebo bronzes on vcoins. Just checked and there are only 5 now. Glitch or did one just sell? The missing one was a very expensive one, although not *that* much better than the remaining examples.
There was another one in the Gorny & Mosch auction a few days ago. I wavered about getting it too and decided to go for it. Unfortunately, I was at work and hadn't pre-bid, got tied up and missed it. And it sold for a very good price. DANG. If I recall, it showed intact scales whereas mine is missing part of the scale.
Edited by ThisIsFun
10/19/2013 10:41 am
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
interesting coin! Unfortunately too expensive for me  Edited by Dutchgulden
10/19/2013 12:16 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
Just reading your threads is an education. Wish I had your bank balance :)
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Never thought I would ever see one of these. Very historical piece and a wonderful addition to your collection.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4964 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Gotta say, the dancing fruit are one of my favorite things about CCF! Technically speaking, of course. The best best thing is the people  Fruit back at ya, coinbro!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Hey dancing fruit, take five, would ya?
I'm learning more about this coin (oh shut up, I know I should have done that BEFORE...)
It's looking less and less like it is pharonic, from Egypt, or that old. More like 1st century AD, maybe Syria or northern Africa. So I guess those might not even be the scales of Ma'at.
Or at least that's what 'the scholars' are thinking now.
Sigh.
Still a scare and enigmatic coin though.
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Pillar of the Community
Russian Federation
5172 Posts |
The problem is, of course, that the actual "sole pharaonic issue" (the one that is certainly Egyptian) is in gold and known in like four or six examples. So when it appears, it sells for six-digit figures. Probably no way for anyone on CCF to ever get that one  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Regarding that gold Nektanebo coin... there is doubt about its authenticity too. Interesting reading hereIn that discussion, a very knowledgable numismatist says: Quote:
This also has ramifications for the "Nektanebo II" gold stater, which increasingly appears to be a 19th century fabrication. He then lays out series of observations which lead him to that statement. I did research this coin before bidding. Obviously not deep enough though. I looked for information in wildwinds (check; it's there, no mention of the doubts about it truly being a Nektanebo issue); comparable coins and prior sales in CNG archives, acsearch, and all the usual places. Didn't come across the authenticity issues though. Bubbles. Bursting. It seems that I made a mistake buying this coin. Two of the three reasons I bought this coin are evaporating, leaving an extremely overpriced third reason. Next time I consider buying a scarce coin I will need to dig much deeper. |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
How much is a carbon dating test?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
Well pish... that's a good thought, but carbon dating is for objects much older than this. And they have to contain carbon. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, although the exact composition of ancient bronze alloys probably varies.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
We can take/send stuff to the British Museum, do you have anywhere in the States that could do the same. No reason why you could not send it to the BM. You have to supply return postage and they would appreciate a small donation, but it might put your mind at rest, one way or another.
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Replies: 13 / Views: 4,198 |
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Posted 10/19/2013 10:40 am
