The Ptolemies, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 – 246 Alexandria

The Ptolemies, Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285 – 246 Alexandria Octodrachm. In name of Arsinoe circa 251-250, AV 28.00 mm., 27.74 g.
Diademed and veiled head of the deified Arsinoe II r.; in l. field, K. Rev. ΑΡΣIΝΟΗΣ – ΦΙΛΑΔΕΛΦΟΥ Double cornucopiae filled with fruit and bound with fillets. CPE 390. Svoronos 475.

A very attractive portrait struck in high relief, minor marks and minor tooling on hair, otherwise About Extremely fine

Ex Naville Numismatics sale 79, 2023, 177. From a private British collection

The veiled portrait of Arsinoe II, sister-wife of King Ptolemy II, was iconic in the Hellenistic Age. It not only set the standard for the presentation of later Ptolemaic women, but it influenced monarchs who issued coins throughout the Mediterranean world, even into Roman times. After she died in July, 270 B.C., Arsinoe II was promptly deified, and coins mainly of large denominations – usually gold octodrachms and silver decadrachms – were produced in her honour. Remarkably, they continued to be struck under successive Ptolemaic kings for nearly 150 years, by which time the Ptolemies ceased issuing such impressive coins. This particular coin was struck at the provincial mint of Ake-Ptolemais, and is dated to year 35, which Troxell identifies as 251/0 B.C. This portrait shows a noblewoman of impeccable pedigree, the ideal of Greek womanhood. Her status as a queen is attested by the jewelled diadem at her forehead and the sceptre on the far side of her bust, and her divinity is revealed by the ram's horn that curls behind her ear. The diaphanous veil, however, may be the most arresting element of the design, as it envelops her head in high relief and trails downward in a way that provides the image with great dimension. The reverse is devoted wholly to the deified queen. The inscription APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY ([coin] of Arsinoe, brother-lover) demonstrates her sibling relationship with her husband, King Ptolemy II, who issued this octodrachm. Furthermore, the double cornucopia is thought to be the personal badge of Arsinoe II, and it became inseparable with her veiled image, as both appear on the coins issued in her name until the late issues of King Ptolemy VIII, who died in 116 B.C. The veiled portrait of Arsinoe II, sister-wife of King Ptolemy II, was iconic in the Hellenistic Age. It not only set the standard for the presentation of later Ptolemaic women, but it influenced monarchs who issued coins throughout the Mediterranean world, even into Roman times. After she died in July, 270 B.C., Arsinoe II was promptly deified, and coins mainly of large denominations – usually gold octodrachms and silver decadrachms – were produced in her honour. Remarkably, they continued to be struck under successive Ptolemaic kings for nearly 150 years, by which time the Ptolemies ceased issuing such impressive coins. This particular coin was struck at the provincial mint of Ake-Ptolemais, and is dated to year 35, which Troxell identifies as 251/0 B.C. This portrait shows a noblewoman of impeccable pedigree, the ideal of Greek womanhood. Her status as a queen is attested by the jewelled diadem at her forehead and the sceptre on the far side of her bust, and her divinity is revealed by the ram's horn that curls behind her ear. The diaphanous veil, however, may be the most arresting element of the design, as it envelops her head in high relief and trails downward in a way that provides the image with great dimension. The reverse is devoted wholly to the deified queen. The inscription APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY ("[coin] of Arsinoe, brother-lover") demonstrates her sibling relationship with her husband, King Ptolemy II, who issued this octodrachm. Furthermore, the double cornucopia is thought to be the personal badge of Arsinoe II, and it became inseparable with her veiled image, as both appear on the coins issued in her name until the late issues of King Ptolemy VIII, who died in 116 B.C
The veiled portrait of Arsinoe II, sister-wife of King Ptolemy II, was iconic in the Hellenistic Age. It not only set the standard for the presentation of later Ptolemaic women, but it influenced monarchs who issued coins throughout the Mediterranean world, even into Roman times. After she died in July, 270 B.C., Arsinoe II was promptly deified, and coins mainly of large denominations – usually gold octodrachms and silver decadrachms – were produced in her honour. Remarkably, they continued to be struck under successive Ptolemaic kings for nearly 150 years, by which time the Ptolemies ceased issuing such impressive coins. This particular coin was struck at the provincial mint of Ake-Ptolemais, and is dated to year 35, which Troxell identifies as 251/0 B.C. This portrait shows a noblewoman of impeccable pedigree, the ideal of Greek womanhood. Her status as a queen is attested by the jewelled diadem at her forehead and the sceptre on the far side of her bust, and her divinity is revealed by the ram's horn that curls behind her ear. The diaphanous veil, however, may be the most arresting element of the design, as it envelops her head in high relief and trails downward in a way that provides the image with great dimension. The reverse is devoted wholly to the deified queen. The inscription APΣINOHΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY ([coin] of Arsinoe, brother-lover") demonstrates her sibling relationship with her husband, King Ptolemy II, who issued this octodrachm. Furthermore, the double cornucopia is thought to be the personal badge of Arsinoe II, and it became inseparable with her veiled image, as both appear on the coins issued in her name until the late issues of King Ptolemy VIII, who died in 116 B.C.