FACE VALUES OF PTOLEMAIC BRONZE COINS OF THE SECOND CENTURY BC (original) (raw)
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Bronze Coinage of Ptolemaic Egypt in the Second Century BC
Drawing primarily on hoards, but also on metrological and metallurgical analyses, the authors propose a relative chronology and classification for Egyptian bronze coinage of the second century bc. This coinage is characterized by diverse obverse types that served as consistent denomination markers, even as the weights of the several denominations were reduced in piecemeal fashion. A debasement of the alloy introduced a metrologically stable currency that remained in circulation from before mid-century to 115 bc. The subtlety of the early weight reductions and the long period of stability raise doubt whether changes to the currency could have caused the much-studied price inflation of the second century.
A Metrological Survey of Ptolemaic Bronze Coins II: Alexandria First and Second Centuries BC
American Journal of Numismatics (AJN), 2021
A quantitative analysis is presented of weights of more than 4,400 Ptolemaic bronze coins representing Alexandria’s issues of the second to first century BC, from the time of Ptolemy V through the reign of Cleopatra VII. Large samples of over 40 coin types yield better weight statistics than previously published. Novel population analyses help describe and classify some types that are difficult to distinguish and enable comparisons with populations of other coin types. The distribution of some types in hoards are clarified based on quantitatively sound classifications. This study suggests new hypotheses of relationships and possible weight standards for the late Ptolemaic bronze coinage.
Drawing primarily on hoards, but also on metrological and metallurgical analyses, the authors propose a relative chronology and classification for Egyptian bronze coinage of the second century bc. This coinage is characterized by diverse obverse types that served as consistent denomination markers, even as the weights of the several denominations were reduced in piecemeal fashion. A debasement of the alloy introduced a metrologically stable currency that remained in circulation from before mid-century to 115 bc. The subtlety of the early weight reductions and the long period of stability raise doubt whether changes to the currency could have caused the much-studied price inflation of the second century.
A Metrological Survey of Ptolemaic Bronze Coins
Journal of the American Numismatic Society - 2013, 2014
Analysis of many Ptolemaic bronze coins clarified relationships between their weights and values during the reigns of Ptolemy I–IV. Two aggregate bronze weight standards came to light for time periods before and after a coinage reform c. 265–260 bc. Analyses of the new empirical data showed that previous theoretical Ptolemaic bronze weight standards were incorrect. Large samples gave more confident estimates for the weight standards, the relationship between them, and the value structures of denomination series. The data also revealed some previously unrecognized denominations. The analyses provided reliable mean weight values for many coin types to replace conflated approximations found in preceding literature. Statistical and graphical comparisons of data for individual types and value series showed that post-reform minting technology permitted weight-to-value relationships that were highly conserved and faithfully executed for half a century at Alexandria and provincial mints.
Three Gold Coinages of Third-Century Ptolemaic Egypt
Revue belge de Numismatique et de Sigillographie CLIX, 2013, p. 49-150.
The paper reports the results of die studies of three major Ptolemaic gold coinages of Alexandria: the coinage in the name of the Theoi Adelphoi, featuring the jugate busts of the two first Lagid couples; the mnaieia in the name of Arsinoe Philadelphus; and the main issue of mnaieia depicting the radiate Ptolemy III wearing the aegis like a chlamys. The die studies reveal a distinct pattern of production for each of these coinages. Metallurgical analyses identify the stocks of metal used and provide new evidence for the absolute chronology of the first two coinages. The authors also discuss other evidence relevant to chronology, hoards and circulation, and the probable functions of the three coinages.
The deep need of bronze coins (especially petty denominations), characteristic of the cities of the Libyan Pentapolis, is a common trait shared by the overwhelming majority of urban areas during the late Republic and early Empire. The demand for bronze coinage in the first decades of the Roman Empire made the Cyrenaican monetary system considerably receptive and flexible. It is in this context that the author proposes to interpret the Cyrenaican finds of bronze coins of Cleopatra VII and Augustus struck in Alexandria, among which eight were found in Ptolemais. The influx of Alexandrian bronzes to the cities of the Libyan Pentapolis seems to be connected with the presence of the Roman army in Cyrenaica under Augustus and Tiberius, especially with the legio III Cyrenaica which presumably had come from Egypt during the Marmaric war.
CoinWeek Ancient Coin Series: The Ptolemies, Part III
CoinWeek.com, 2019
THE TRAGIC AND CHAOTIC last generations of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt were dominated by the growing power of Rome, and the fickle loyalties of Alexandria’s unruly population. Alexandria in this era had as many as half a million inhabitants. Coinage of this period has a special fascination for collectors ofancients largely because of the glamorous and dramatic figure of Cleopatra VII. .