Lot 47. Ptolemaios VIII. AE45, head of Zeus Ammon / single cornucopiae, extremely rare

Time left: Bidding closed (Sunday, April 15th, 19:23:30 CEST) Current time: Monday, April 29th, 08:26:15 CEST Price realised: CHF 2'200.00 (4 bids) Approx. EUR 2'248.11 / USD 2'404.69 / GBP 1'925.60 Bid history Amount Bidder Date CHF 2'200.00 Bidder 3 * 2012-04-15, 19:23:23 CHF 2'100.00 Bidder 2 * 2012-04-01, 16:21:50 CHF 1'950.00 Bidder 1 * 2012-04-15, 19:22:52 CHF 1'800.00 Bidder 1 * 2012-04-15, 19:22:26 * User names of other bidders are replaced by Bidder 1, 2, and so on. High bidder: Bidder 3

Kings of Egypt. Ptolemaios VIII. Euergetes (145-116 BC). AE45 (57.74 g), Cyprus mint, 131 BC or slightly later.
Obv. Head of Zeus Ammon wearing taenia and ram's horn right.
Rev. EYEPΓETOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, single cornucopiae decorated with taenias.
Cf. Svoronos pl. 267, 1640 var. (double cornucopiae).

Extremely rare, apparently unpublished. Good very fine / very fine.

This fascinating rarity with a single rather than a double cornucopiae belongs to the short Ptolemaic civil war period between 132 and 127/6 BC. In 132 BC, war broke out between the king and his first wife Kleopatra II., formerly married to the kings predecessor and brother Ptolemaios VI. Although the Pharao lost most of Egypt, he was able to hold the capital Alexandria until late in 131 BC, when the royal palace was burned down and Ptolemaios had to flee with his second wife Kleopatra III. (who was the daughter of Kleopatra II. and thus his niece) to Cyprus. Late in 131 or early in 130 BC, he returned to Egypt and regained control over most of the country, although Kleopatra could hold Alexandria until about 127/6 BC, soon after which the royal family settled its quarrels. It is during the civil war period that this extremely rare type must have been issued.