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Review bronze coin types of Ptolemy II Bronze denominations of Ptolemy II  

   Review the possibility of denominational indicators on coins of Ptolemy III Denominations of Ptolemy III

   Hoard data shows that two eagles were not denominational markers Hoard data of Ptolemies II, III, IV

   Two eagles were not denominational markers in time of Ptolemy VI Denominations of Ptolemy VI

   Corrections to the literature that are developed in Part 1 Index to Part 1

Evidence for two eagles as symbols of co-regency Two eagles as symbols of co-regents

   Two eagles coincide with times of co-regency Concurrence of eagles/co-regency

   Additional evidence that indicates two eagles represent co-regency Additional evidence

Apparent origin of a widely held but incorrect view Origin of a current incorrect view

Summary of the website and conclusions obtained for two different hypotheses Summary

Difficulties in attempts to publish a manuscript Attempted publication

Options to read and/or print manuscript Read / download manuscript

Acknowledgements Acknowledgements

List of interesting web sites Links

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Two Eagles on Ptolemaic Coins as Representations of Co-Regency

Review of denominations of early Ptolemaic bronze coins  -  Ptolemy III 

As with the table for Ptolemy II in Part 1, the table below for Ptolemy III shows each denomination by a row across a set of columns.  There are ten different denominations that include three new ones added to the eight (or possibly six) denominations of Ptolemy II (see column right, under Pt II Module).  The largest denomination (A, c.92g) of Ptolemy II has not been listed here, it was apparently not continued by Ptolemy III;  the heaviest denomination of Ptolemy III was 59-78g corresponding to denomination B (c.68g) of Ptolemy II.Coins produced in Cyprus, Phoenicia and Palistine are not included in the table 

The three new denominations in the table are C, E, and J.  These additions and changes make Mørkholm's letter designations of Ptolemy III's coins (in the first column from the left) differ from those of Ptolemy II (in the last column). The weights listed in the same row under the columns "Weight" and "Pt II Module" indicate the same denomination of Ptolemy III and Ptolemy II.

       Denominations of Bronze Coins of Ptolemy III       

  
ModuleObverseReverseDiameterWeightPt II
  Module  

A Pt III

Ammoneagle, cw43-5 mm59-78g

c.68g

B

B Pt III

Ammoneagle,cw,hr,cs40 mm39-53g

c.46g

C

C Pt IIIAmmoneagle, cw35 mm28-38g--

D Pt III

Ammoneagle, cw30 mm19-25g

c.22g

D

E Pt IIIZeuseagle, ow27 mm10-16g--

Fi Pt III

Ammoneagle, cw25 mm9-13g

c.11g

E

Fii Pt III

Alexandereagle,cw,hr,cs25 mm8-12g

G Pt III

Ammoneagle, cw, cs20 mm4.5-6g

c.6.8g

F

H Pt III

Alexandereagle, cw17 mm3-5g

c.5.2g

G

I Pt III

Ammoneagle, cw16 mm2-3g

c.3.4g

H

J Pt IIIAlexandereagle, cw13 mm1-2g--

 O. Mørkholm, Early Hellenistic Coinage (Cambridge, 1991), p.107.

 ow = open wings; cw = closed wings; hr = head reverted; cs = cornucopia at shoulder

 
 

Pt III

refA

refB

refC

refD

refE

refF

refG

refH

refI

refJ

Different denominations
with same obv. / rev.

Same denomination with
different obv. / rev.

Small denominations
with same obv. / rev.

Same denomination (of PtII and
PtIII) with different obv. or rev.

To compare PtII / PtIII click on Compare


  For modules of Ptolemies II and III (highlighted in the table) the markings used on each denomination differ for the two reigns.  The differences involve changes in the types used for either the obverse or reverse or both.  There is thus no correlation of any possible marks used on denominations of Ptolemy II with possible marks used on the same denomination of Ptolemy III.

Conclusions from the same denominations (of Pt II and Pt III) with different obv. or rev. :

If there are denomination marks on coins of Ptolemy II, it would be expected that the same markings would be used for the later coins of the same denominations produced by Ptolemy III.  However, although coins of both Ptolemy II and Ptolemy III with the same denominations circulated together, there was no consistency in the use of possible denominational indicators.  For example, while coins of Ptolemy III (his module B, 39-53g, c.40mm) show an eagle with closed wings, head reverted, and a cornucopia at the upper right, coins with the same weight of Ptolemy II (his module C, 41-50g, c.36mm) show an eagle with open wings, head not reverted and no cornucopia.  Also, coins of Ptolemy III (his module H, 3-5g, 17mm) show an Alexander head while coins of Ptolemy II (his module G, 4-6g, 18mm) show an Ammon head.  For a comparison of each denomination click on Compare.

By the red highlighting the table points out those denominations of Ptolemy III that had different potential denominational indicators (i.e., different types) from the corresponding denominations of Ptolemy II.  There is no correspondence between any of the types.  The variety of differences (involving three different obverse images, wing and head variations of the eagle, and the presence of a cornucopia) simply indicated a variety of designs and had no denominational implications.

A summary of conclusions from the comparisons is given here when Summary is clicked.

The summary also appears after three comparisons of denominations are done (see boxes at upper right).

  go to 1 - Review of bronze denominations of Ptolemy II go to 1b - Review of hoard data regarding denominations of Ptolemies II, III and IV

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