Bassam Barakat Antiquities

Description

Very Rare Ptolemy I Soter Silver Tetradrachm of 25 Obols, Alexandria, after 294. Diademed.
Date: 305-282 BC.

Obv: head of Ptolemy I to right, wearing aegis around neck; small Δ behind ear. 

Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle with closed wings standing left on thunderbolt; to left, two monograms. CPE 178. SNG Copenhagen 63. Svoronos 243.

Very rare. with a banker’s mark on the reverse, otherwise, Near Exteremly Fine.

The Ptolemaic currency reform culminated c. 305/300 by Ptolemy I’s replacement of his tetradrachms bearing a portrait of Alexander with those displaying his own head. This was the first true portrait of one of Alexander’s successors and was startlingly realistic. The tiny letter Δ found in his hair behind the ear is the initial of the master-engraver who designed the coin.