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 Replies: 19 / Views: 3,271 |
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Valued Member
United States
264 Posts |
This is part of an inherited collection and I don;t even know where to begin identifying this one. I can't make out any clear legend and have no idea what the figure is supposed to be. It weighs 44.76 grams and is about 38mm in diameter. Any guidance is appreciated.  *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Valued Member
 United States
264 Posts |
sorry, forgot the clearer photo of the other side.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
I know it's probably a Ptolemaic bronze which are usually segregated by diameter, rather than denomination. But it's been 20 years since I collected ancients and I'm sure you'll get a better answer soon.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
I believe it's a tetrobol of Ptolemy III, 246 - 222 BC, Alexandria mint, Svoronos 974.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
There are fakes of these around, but this one look to be genuine.
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Valued Member
United States
264 Posts |
Thank you. Now I can finally figure out what the strange figure is supposed to be.
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Bob has nailed it. It's Ptolemy III. Would like to see a clearer picture of the obverse though, but the weight is correct. I see nothing wrong with this coin. Here is the same type from my collection.   Ptolemy III |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
Impressive coin, Ron.  |
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
Yes they are beautiful ! Useful too if you run out of bullets !
For the 'common collector' this is one of the most impressive coins ever made. I have several due to the fact that I kept finding a bigger one !
But that was in the last century and the whoppers are getting harder to find for less than exorbitant prices.
Anything over 40 grams I classify as a "whopper" !
And of course I am proud to proclaim .......
Mine is bigger than yours !
(I do seem to recall someone else topping mine ....... but she hasn't been around in a long time)
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3443 Posts |
FYI
Most dealers these days would ask a few hundred for it !
Being a cheapskate I would not bite at that price. But some people do.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Well, as long as we're haulin' 'em out for size, here's daddy and junior side by side. Literally.  The big boy on the left is Ptolemy II (Philadelphos) at 43mm and 61g. The guy in the middle is Ptolemy III (Euergetes) at 33mm and 32g. (But he has an AE42 size too) The one on the right is an early Roman Republican As of 211-206 at 33mm and 38g (about 15 years later) to compare with the coin of Pty III. They are of similar module. The inset is to highlight the symbol of the XP (Chi-Rho) between the legs of the eagle on the coin of Euergetes [not in the best of shape, unfortunately, but recognizable.] These are great little varieties on these coins that I thought you might relate to. Edited by lrbguy
01/19/2016 1:47 pm
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Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
I really like these large Ptolemaic coins mine is only 38mm. It's interesting to see a Chi-Rho on other coins before it became a Christian symbol.
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Pillar of the Community
Belgium
1194 Posts |
What means the XP symbol on the Euergetes'coin? albert
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Pillar of the Community
United States
949 Posts |
Quote:
What means the XP symbol on the Euergetes'coin? albert What did it mean at the time? I have not read that it has been associated with anyone in particular. It was simply a monogram for someone or something now lost to us. What significance do I draw from its presence on these early coins? Simply that it is tangible evidence the symbol did not originate with Constantine, but had been around for centuries before his time. It's appropriation as a symbol of the Constantinian family (so says Patrick Bruun) and then to Christianity (via Eusebius - Constantine's press agent) was clever and convenient, but not specific to that context alone. For me it adds a layer of complexity to the Milvian Bridge story. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
I'm reading some tidbits online that the chi-rho, in pre-Christian times, was apparently associated with good fortune. From http://www.ancient-symbols.com/symb...chi_rho.htmlThe Chi Rho symbol has pre-Christian connections and is believed to have been revered by the pagan Greeks as representative of good fortune. Pagan Greek scribes used the symbol in the margin to mark passages they considered especially significant or relevant, with the letters Chi and Rho denoting 'chreston' that means 'good'. The sign has also been found on the coins of Ptolemy III (246-222 BCE). From http://www.truthbeknown.com/chi-rho-chrestos.htmlThe ancient monogram combination of the Greek letters XP or "chi-rho" denoted a variety of terms, including "gold" , "anointed" and "good" (Greek spellings of these words removed here). Thus, in determining the usage of the word chrestos we need to factor in studies of the chi-rho, an abbreviation employed on coins, shields and elsewhere for centuries prior to the common era. |
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Replies: 19 / Views: 3,271 |
Posted 01/18/2016 3:33 pm
