PTOLEMY I ALEXANDER ELEPHANT HEADDRESS TETRADRACHM – SCARCE IΣ HELMET ISSUE EX CHRISTIE’S LONDON 1988 – CHOICE XF NGC GRADED GREEK PTOLEMAIC PROVENANCED COIN (Inv. 21277)

$4,500.00

21277. EGYPT. PTOLEMAIC KINGDOM. PTOLEMY I (as SATRAP), 323–305/4 BC.
Silver Tetradrachm, 15.64 g, 29 mm. Issue of Alexandria, “Helmet Series,” ca. 306–300 BC.
Obv. Diademed head of Alexander the Great wearing elephant headdress, aegis around the neck, with tiny Δ in scales. Rev. AΛEΞANΔPOY, Athena Alkidemos striding right, with raised spear and shield, Corinthian helmet, IΣ control monogram and eagle on thunderbolt in right field.
CPE 67; Svoronos 165; Zervos Issue 27 (obverse die 392).
Ex Superior Galleries, 5/30/1990, lot 7029 = ex Christie’s London, 4/26/1988, lot 533.
NGC CHOICE XF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, “graffiti,” this variety with control is extremely rare with only three specimens in market records, and only 26 noted by Zervos who calls it the “first small issue.”