Nomos 9

PTOLEMAIC KINGS of EGYPT. Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246-222 BC. Drachm (Bronze, 40mm, 66.04 g 12), Alexandria, mid 240s-mid 220s BC. Diademed head of Zeus Ammon to right, with ram’s horn in his hair and over the diadem. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; in field to left, cornucopia; between eagle’s legs, monogram of ΧΡ. SNG Copenhagen 171. Svoronos 964. Weiser 71 . A remarkably fine example of this coinage, with an attractive, smooth olive-brown patina and a particularly majestic head of Zeus Ammon of the best early Hellenistic style. Good extremely fine.

From the Escalade Collection, Switzerland, ex Nomos Fixed Price List, Winter 2008, 67.

Ptolemaic Egypt had a very carefully controlled coinage system: gold and silver issues were primarily used for external purposes, while a whole series of bronze coins, including some of large size and heavy weight, as this one, were used within Egypt itself. The bronzes took the place of lower value silver coins and initially contained metal that was roughly equivalent to their tariffed value. That they circulated widely is clear: the vast majority are worn, often heavily so; as a result, very well preserved examples, as this one, are actually very rare. Interestingly enough, the heavy weight of these coins lent themselves to be used in imaginative ways: at least one example of an ancient ‘vending machine’ is known from Egypt. In one sanctuary worshippers could put the required number of coins into a slot and their weight would activate a dispenser of holy water!!