PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285/4-246 BC). AV trichryson or pentadrachm (23mm, 17.62 gm, 12h). ANACS VF 35, repaired. Alexandria, ca. 285-261/0 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis tied around neck; dotted border / ΠTOΛEMAIOY-BAΣIΛEΩΣ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed; Σ above Galatian shield in left field, E between eagle's legs, dotted border. CPE 282. Svoronos 566. Extremely rare with E control mark - only one example found in sales archives. The trichryson, a gold piece of about 24mm and 17.8 grams (the approximate size and weight of an Attic silver tetradrachm), was first introduced by Ptolemy I shortly after he assumed the title of Basileus (king) in 305 BC. The weight was equivalent to five Ptolemaic silver drachms on the reduced Phoenician standard adopted by Ptolemy I (hence the modern term "pentadrachm" usually applied to this denomination) but under the Ptolemaic system the value would have been 12 times as great, or 60 silver drachms - a huge sum in the ancient world. It was the largest gold coin the world had yet seen, testament to the vast wealth of Egypt. The Alexandria mint employed the best engravers in the production of its gold coinage and the quality of portraiture is typically outstanding. The production of gold trichrysons continued under Ptolemy II Philadelphus, with the added feature of a regnal date added between the eagle's legs. Circa 270 BC it was replaced by an even larger gold coin, the mnaieion, worth 100 silver drachms.

HID09801242017

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