PTOLEMY III GOLD MNAIEION / OCTODRACHM – POSTHUMOUS ISSUE TO PAY TROOPS AT BATTLE OF RAPHIA – VF NGC GRADED GREEK PTOLEMAIC COIN (Inv. 17313)

$25,950.00

EGYPT, PTOLEMAIC KINGDOM. PTOLEMY III, 246-222 BC.
Gold mnaieion (octodrachm), 27.70 g, 27 mm. Posthumous commemorative issue struck by Ptolemy IV, ca. 219-217 BC.
Obv. Radiate bust of Ptolemy III, wearing aegis and holding trident over his left shoulder. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, cornucopia wrapped with radiate royal diadem, ΔI below.
CPE, 888; Svoronos, 1117; Olivier & Lorber, “Three gold coinages of third-century Ptolemaic Egypt” in RBN 159 (2013), 167 (Obv 4/ Rev 15) (this coin cited).
Ex Kölner Münzkabinett 115, 10/29/2021, lot 140 = Kricheldorf XXIII, 6/21/1971, lot 55 = Hirsch 43, 6/21/1965, lot 1261; perhaps the same coin as that from the Consul Weber collection, J. Hirsch XXI, 11/16/1908, lot 4497, however, it is very difficult to be certain given the poor reproduction of the cast in the Hirsch sale.
NGC graded VF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, “graffito”.
This issue, struck in the name of Ptolemy III by Ptolemy IV was likely intended to pay a donative to the Ptolemaic troops at the battle of Raphia (217 BC), as promised by queen Arsinoe III and recorded in Maccabees III.1: “Now Philopater, on learning from those who came back that Antiochus had made himself master of the places which belonged to himself, sent orders to all his footmen and horsemen, took with him his sister Arsinoe, and marched out as far as the parts of Raphia, where Antiochus and his forces encamped …. A fierce battle then took place; and the men of Antiochus prevailing, Arsinoe continually went up and down the ranks, and with disheveled hair, with tears and entreaties, begged the soldiers to fight manfully for themselves, their children, and wives; and promised that if they proved conquerors, she would give them two minas of gold apiece. It thus fell out that their enemies were defeated in hand-to-hand encounter, and that many of them were taken prisoners.” (translation from ebible.org)