Both sides of an irregularly shaped gold coin with relief decoration on each side.
Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College

On the side of the coin on the left is a man's head facing right, with long curly tendrils of hair held in place with an ornamental headband, small dots surround the border. The other side of the coin depicts an eagle standing on a thunderbolt facing left, wings slightly opened. Along the top border, the Greek characters: P T O L E M A I O U / B A S I L E O S.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1.1965.2740
People
Ptolemy I Soter, Greek (r. 323-283 BCE)
Title
Pentadrachm of Ptolemy I, Alexandria
Classification
Coins
Work Type
coin
Date
294-282 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Alexandria (Egypt)
Period
Ptolemaic period
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/168921

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Gold
Metal
AV
Technique
Struck
Dimensions
17.85 g
Die Axis
12
Denomination
pentadrachm
Inscriptions and Marks
  • Reverse Inscription: PTOLEMAIOU BASILEOS; monogram in l. field

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Ars Classica 15, 2 July 1930 lot 1165

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
Coins of the Ptolemaic Empire I.1, 166; Svoronos 210

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Loan from the Trustees of the Arthur Stone Dewing Greek Numismatic Foundation
Object Number
1.1965.2740
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Obv.: Diademed head of Ptolemy r., border of dots
Rev.: Eagle standing l. on thunderbolt; border of dots., monogram to l.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3620 University Study Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 08/17/2017 - 01/07/2018

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu