Nomos 21

EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter, as satrap, 323-305 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27.5 mm, 16.96 g, 11 h), Attic weight standard, by the Δ engraver, Alexandria, circa 311/310. Head of the deified Alexander III to right, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant's skin headdress, with aegis around his neck, and with horn of Ammon on his forehead; next to elephant’s ear, on the aegis, tiny Δ. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Athena Alkidemos advancing right, hurling spear with her right hand and with shield over her extended left arm; in field to right, ΕΥ and eagle with closed wings standing right on thunderbolt. Lorber 47. SNG Copenhagen 15. Svoronos 42. Zervos XVIII. Very attractively toned and of excellent style. Minor scratches below Alexander's chin on the obverse and in the reverse fields, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the collection of W. Belser, Zürich, prior to 1965, and that of his son, acquired in the early 1970s.

The scratches on this coin appear to be ancient and may well be some sort of graffito-like doodling!