Lot 1688

Description

Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy VIII, (145-116 B.C.), gold oktadrachm, commemorative issue for Arsinoe II, (27.87 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed and veiled head of Arsinoe II to right, lotus tipped sceptre over shoulder, K behind, within dotted border, rev. double cornucopiae bound with fillet, around **ARSINOHS FILADELFOU*, (S.7888A, Sv. 1499, SNG Cop. 321, Hazzard figure 112). About as struck, good extremely fine and rare.

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (145-116 B.C.) was possibly the last monarch to strike octadrachms... The gold pieces featured the stereotypes head of Arsinoe II on the obverse and the letter K on the obverse field. This letter and type was copied from Arsinoe's gold coined under Ptolemy II. The gold octadrachm under Ptolemy VIII probably passed for 50,000 copper drachms if someone tendered the coins at full weight. The gold was mined near the border with Ethiopia.