Description Ptolemaic kings of Egypt, Octodrachm,Alexandria, Ptolemy IV Philopater (221-205), c. 217 BC, AV, (g 27,72, mm 27, h 12). Radiate and diademed bust of deified Ptolemy III to r, wearing aegis and holding trident on shoulder, Rv. BAΣIΛEΩΣ PTOΛEMAIOY, radiate cornucopiae, bound with royal diadem; sotto ΔI. Svoronos 1117; SNG Copenhagen 196.
Rare. Fine style. good extremely fine.
The portrait of Ptolemy IV shows the great trasformation of Hellenistic portraiture. After Alexander’s death (323 BC), kings start to use their deified portraits, togheter with particular symbols, for example: trident, horns, etc.. First authorities that accepted this policy were Ptolemaic kings that used complex representations. In this octodrachm, the king, in fact, wearing many deified symbols: the radiate crown of Helios, Poseidon’s trident and Athena’s aegis. |
