PTOLEMAIC KINGDOM OF EGYPT

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II (Physcon), 145-116 BC

AE30. 25.90g, 30.1mm MINTED: EGYPT, Alexandreia mint  REF: Svoronos 1424; SNG Copenhagen 308-310 (Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII) OBVERSE: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right

REVERSE: BAΣIΛEΩS ΠTOΛEMAIOY, two eagles with their wings closed standing left on thunderbolt; double cornucopia to left.

Notes:

Thick, chunky Ptolemaic bronze.  Some cleaning scratches.   

Historical Notes:

The Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt was founded by Ptolemy I Soter, a Macedonian noble who was one of Alexander the Great's most trusted companions.  Given the satrapy of Egypt after the death of Alexander in 323 BC, Ptolemy eventually declared himself Pharoah in 305 BC, establishing a Greek dynasty that would rule over the ancient kingdom for 275 years, until the death in 30 BC of Cleopatra VII, the last of the Ptolemaic rulers of Egypt.