Lot 1583

Description

Egypt, Kingdom of, Ptolemy I, (323-283 B.C.), gold pentadrachm, issued 305-285 B.C., (17.80 grams), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed head of Ptolemy I to right, with aegis, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, standing on thunderbolt, in front P over monogram **PU*, around **BASILEWS PTOLEMAI[OU]*, (S.7762, Sv. 222 [Pl.VII, 3], cf.SNG Cop.106 [Ptolemy II]). Metal flaw on obverse in right field, otherwise good very fine and extremely rare.

Svoronos knew of only the one example in the Athens collection which he illustrates in his work. The monogram was found on a silver tetradrachm in the Meydancikkale hoard and was dated by Davesne and Le Rider to c.290-289 B.C.