GREEK. PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphos. 285-246 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (13.95g). Sidon mint. Dated regnal year 36, 250/49 BC. Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis, rendered in bold and lifelike Hellenistic style / Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings partially spread; EI above monogram to left, date, year 36, to right. Svoronos 749; SNG Copenhagen 516; DCA 21. gVF. This tetradrachm was struck at Sidon during the long, confident reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphos as a dynastic tribute to his father, Ptolemy I Soter, founder of the Ptolemaic kingdom and former general of Alexander. It reflects a moment when Hellenistic Egypt was at its height, using finely styled coinage as both currency and royal propaganda to project Alexandrian power along the Phoenician coast. From the David Allan Collection; acquired from CNG 287 (26 September 2012), lot 242. Since that sale, no further examples of this type appear to have come to market, and this piece is only the third recorded in CoinArchives, underlining its considerable rarity and strong appeal to collectors of Ptolemaic and Phoenician coinage. (P)

Estimate: AUD 1000