Lot 4379

Description

Egypt, Kingdom of, Cleopatra VII, (51-30 B.C.), copper eighty drachms (= one silver obol), AE 27, (18.01 g), Alexandria mint, obv. diademed bust of Cleopatra VII to right, line border, rev. eagle to left with closed wings, standing on a thunderbolt, to left cornucopiae, around traces of **KLEOPATRAS BASILISSHS*, to right **P* [= 80], (S.7955, Sear Imperators 948, BMC 4-5, Sv.1871, Weiser 184-5, SNG Cop. 422-4). Evenly worn as usual, nearly fine, rare.

The dating of this issue is uncertain, Sear Imperators suggests probably struck late in her reign. Sear goes on to note: 'At some point in her reign - probably in her final years - Cleopatra undertook a reform of the Ptolemaic bronze coinage. Two denominations are represented, both undated but bearing the marks of value **'P'* (=80) and `M' (=40). The ratio between the silver and bronze drachma at this time was probably 480 to I, so the piece of 80 drachmas may be regarded as the equivalent of a silver obol and the 40 drachmas a hemiobol'.