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Ptolemaic Kingdom. Berenike II, wife of Ptolemy I

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:10,000.00 USD Estimated At:20,000.00 - 25,000.00 USD
Ptolemaic Kingdom. Berenike II, wife of Ptolemy I
<Our item number 115719><B>Ptolemaic Kingdom. Berenike II, wife of Ptolemy III, Euergetes, 247-221 BC. Gold Octodrachm &#40;27.79 g&#41;, Alexandria mint. Struck under Ptolemy III, 246-221 BC.</B> Veiled and draped bust of Berenike right, wearing beaded necklace. <I>Reverse</I>: Cornucopiae bound with royal diadem, regnal inscription around. Svoronos 1113, pl. 35, 1; SNG Cop. 169; Boston 2348. Sharply struck and lustrous, the reverse fields almost prooflike. The fine portrait conveys remarkable dignity and elegance. <B>NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated.</B> <BR><BR>The marriage of Ptolemy III to his cousin Berenike II, once more united the kingdom of Cyrenaica with that of Egypt, and certainly to Egypt&#39;s benefit. As sole heir to this wealthy city-kingdom, she brought with her as consort to Egypt&#39;s ruler, vast incomes from her city&#39;s shipping and trade. This in part may account for the fact that Berenike was the first Ptolemaic queen to have a precious metal coinage issued during her lifetime. The other likely reason could be her sole regency of Egypt while her husband was on campaign in Syria, in the Third Syrian War &#40;245-241 BC&#41;, where he died, apparently of natural causes. In any event, this coinage includes some of the largest and most spectacular coins struck in classical antiquity. <BR><BR>The large and varied, regularly issued gold denominations, were eagerly accepted in the commercial community, and only reinforced to the outside world the notion of Egypt as symbolizing fabulous wealth. It is known from contemporary documents the extent that this gold coinage heavily facilitated Egypt&#39;s trade and industry. Apparently in 258 BC, for example, there was a minor impediment in production. But it was enough to create economic difficulties: the banks refused to accept old coins, and traders were thus unable to buy new goods! <BR>Estimated Value &#36;20,000 - 25,000. <I><BR>Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Coll. III, Sotheby&#39;s NY, Dec. 4, 1990, lot no. 59; Hess-Leu 28&# 40;1965&#41;, lot 314. Illustrated in <B>Money of the World</B><I>, coin 12.</I> <BR><BR>Our item number 115719<BR><IMAGES><P ALIGN="CENTER"><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/47jpegs/115719.jpg"> <BR><IMG SRC="http://www.goldbergcoins.net/liveauction/47jpegs/115719N2.jpg"> </P></IMAGES>