Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom Ptolemy I Soter 1 Pentadrachm

History

1 Pentadrachm 294-282 BC, Svoronos# 374, Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy I Soter

Obverse. Photo © Heritage Auctions

Description

The Ptolemaic Kingdom was an Ancient Greek state based in Egypt during the Hellenistic Period. It was founded in 305 BC by Ptolemy I Soter, a companion of Alexander the Great, and lasted until the death of Cleopatra VII in 30 BC. Ruling for nearly three centuries, the Ptolemies were the longest and most recent Egyptian dynasty of ancient origin.

The Trichryson, a gold piece of about 24 mm 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 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.

Obverse	Person (king, queen, tsar etc.) Ptolemy I Soter Depicts diademed head of Ptolemy I right, aegis tied around the neck, tiny Δ behind ear; dotted border. Ptolemy I Soter ("Ptolemy the Savior"; c. 367 BC – 282 BC) was an Ancient Macedonian general, historian and companion of Alexander the Great of the Kingdom of Macedon in northern Greece who became ruler of Egypt, part of Alexander's former empire. Ptolemy was pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt from 305/304 BC to his death. He was the founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt until the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC, turning the country into a Hellenistic kingdom and Alexandria into a center of Greek culture.
Reverse	Animal (fish, bird, mammal etc.) Eagle Depicts eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed; EY above KΛE monogram above A in left field, dotted border. A commonplace symbol of the Ptolemaic dynasty is an eagle standing on a thunderbolt, first adopted by Ptolemy I Soter. ΠTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ EY KΛE A
Edge	Plain