Appendix I Analysis of declining obol weight standard, taken from

131 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
Appendix I
Analysis of declining obol weight standard, taken from Svoronos data.
Ptolemy III Æ26 obol (12.33g). Svor. 1006.
Svor. # Average g/obol of # of spec. w/o * Type
1005
11.77g
9
Ptolemy III, Aphrodite 3/2 obol
1006
11.66g
9
“ (c. 260 BC)
obol
1007
11.77g
7
“
1/2 obol
1008
11.27g
15 “
1/4 obol
1009
13.14g
7
“
1/8 obol
All types 11.8g
47
Ptolemy VI Æ29 diobol (21.6g) Svor. 1396. Note the effaced reverse legend.
139566
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
All types
10.25g
11.43g
10.14g
10.78g
11.65g
11.33g
10.50g
11.4g
1
8
2
2
7
1
2
23
Ptolemy VI, EYΛ below eagle
(some struck under Antiochus IV)
(c. 168 BC)
Ptolemy VIII Eueregetes Æ45 drachm (71.24g). Svor. 1640.
1640
11.46g
7
Ptolemy VIII Eueregetes,
Double Cornucopia, drachm, Phi.
1641 seems to be a mixture of Eagle right denominations:
An unpublished Æ36 with effaced name of king, lotus symbol and EYΛ below the eagle
weighs 42.07g, presumably a tetrobol of 10.27 g / obol. It has a countermark E, likely from
either a later revaluation from 4 to 5 obols or E for Ptolemy VIII Eueregetes.
66
132 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
a drachm, hemidrachms, and tetrobols, all with Phi.
1642
11.03g
14 Eagle left, obol, Phi.
1643
10.85g
7
Eagle right, obol, Phi.
1644
10.12g
4
Eagle left, wings closed, obol, Phi.
1648
11.91g
4
Eagle right, diobol, K for Kition.
1649 seems to be a mixture of different denominations:
diobols and trihemiobols, K in Svor pic.
All types 11.1g
36
Ptolemy IX, 1st reign
1190
11.20g
All types 11.2g
8
36
Ptolemy VIII and co-ruler (joint rule) Æ34 triobol, (24.4g) Svor. 1696.
1694
1695
1696
1697
1699
1701
All types
9.48g
11.0g
10.15g
9.88g
8.85g
8.30g
9.6g
6
1
1
1
1
1
11
Ptolemy VIII and Cleo II
Ptolemy VIII Æ25 obol dated Year 34 (10g) Svor. 1629.
Svor. Year Avg. Obol # specimens
1621 26 10.20g
2
Ptolemy VIII dated obols
1622 27 9.09g
7
1623-5 28 9.22g
4
1626 29 10.43
1
1627 30 7.00g
1
1628 33 9.46g
5
1629 34 9.79g
5
1630 35 8.94g
2
1631 36? 10.39
1
133 / 140
1632 41
All dates
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
7.65g
9.2g
3
31
Some chronological conclusions about additional bronze issues can be inferred from the above
data.
Larger denominations with cornucopia symbol before a single eagle were issued on the same
scale as the “Statue of Aphrodite” types. Svor. 1002, 1003 and 1004 were a drachm, triobol
and diobol. The weight standard and production methods are very similar to large bronzes
issued under Ptolemy IV.
Issues with lotus symbol were produced from the time of Ptolemy VI to c. 50 BC, during the
reign of Cleopatra VII. The lotus symbol appeared on Classical coins of Paphos. It is probably
a Paphos mintmark. The round examples of close to 12 g per obol (such as Svor. 1403, 1404,
1411 and 1414) are from the reign of Ptolemy VI. Later issues of 10 g (and less) per obol are
less round. Weight and fabric may be used to narrow the time period of a given example.
Æ33 triobol, Svor. 1233 with the head of Cleopatra II as Isis, attributed here to the first
years of the reign of Ptolemy VIII, 145-142 BC. (29.73g)
A similar Æ28 trihemiobol Svor. 1384 with a ∏A monogram for Paphos before the eagle.
(14.01g)
The series of bronzes (triobols, diobols, trihemiobols, obols, and hemiobols) with
Cleopatra II as Isis are less round and at a slightly lower weight standard than the EYΛ issues
from the early reign of Ptolemy VI, dated to include 168 BC above. Therefore, they are too
late to be Cleopatra I, who was regent in 180 to 176 BC. The style of the eagle is similar to
the bronze naming Ptolemy VIII. Indeed this series is slightly lighter than the average obol
weight of Ptolemy VIII named bronze. Instead they must be of Cleopatra II, wife sister of
Ptolemy VI and VIII. Ptolemy VIII married his sister Cleopatra II, who was also his brother’s
widow. Ptolemy VIII married his sister Cleopatra II, who was also his brother’s widow. This
marriage gave him additional legitimacy. This issue may be dated to 145-142 BC. (Svor. 1233,
1234, 1235, 1237, 1238, 1384, 1385, 1387 (weights mixed in Svor.))
134 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
Æ22 obol Svor. 1495 attributed to the to the early first sole reign of Ptolemy IX. (9.96g)
The next bronze series had trihemiobol, obol and hemiobol with a portrait of Alexander the
Great. (Svor. 1493, 1495, (weights mixed in Svor.)) The series may date to c. 125 BC.
A fairly non-descript “Anonymous” coinage filled the years of c. 125-100 BC. Various
symbols (including no symbol) were used. The weight standard of an obol fell from 11 to 8
grams.
Æ25 obol (9.65g) Svor. 1494 var. attributed to Ptolemy VIII. Note the ∏A mintmark on this
variety
The series of bronzes (diobols, trihemiobols, obols, and hemiobols) with obverse of
Hercules are of a less round and similar average weight per obol. They are probably from the
reign of Ptolemy VIII, c. 114 BC. (Svor. 1492, 1494, 1496, 1497 (weights mixed in Svor.)) It
was the first of the broad flan obols, preceding the dated coinage.
Æ30 triobol Svor. 1380 with cornucopia before the two eagles re-attributed tothe joint reign
of Ptolemy X and Cleopatra III. (23.94g)
A series of bronzes (triobols, obols, hemiobols) with obverse legend “Queen Cleopatra”
may follow these. (Svor. 1380, 1381, 1382). The reverse has the usual legend “King
Ptolemy.” The larger denomination has two eagles, not one. The flans are en chapelete. For
the two smaller denominations, the portrait may be Alexander the Great. Other references
date this type to Ptolemy VI. Here, on the basis of the flans and their average weight they
are attributed to the reign of Ptolemy X. The Cleopatra named in the obverse legend is
Cleopatra III, the mother and co-ruler of Ptolemy IX and X. An estimated date is 106-101 BC.
Silver tetradrachms were issued during this period, with the name of Ptolemy and the dates
of both Ptolemy X and his mother Cleopatra III. Both have the ∏A mintmark for Paphos. This
series of bronzes names mother and son.
135 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
Similar and common Æ31 triobol Svor. 1424 with cornucopia before the two eagles reattributed to either the joint reign of Ptolemy X and Cleopatra III. (21.77g)
The common two eagles with cornucopia symbol coinage have been called Ptolemy VI.
The 8g 19-21 mm of this type was the fourth most common Ptolemaic bronze found in the
excavations at Kurium. The flans are also en chapelete, with the weight variance that this
implies. Svor. 1425 is 29-34 mm, of average weight of 24.17 g for the 102 examples of weight
recorded by Svoronos. Its smaller counterpart is Svor. 1426, which has an average weight of
8.09 g for 37 examples. (Svor. 1427 is perhaps a variety of Svor. 1426, with a shorter flan).
The average weights of 1425 and 1427 show a 3:1 relationship. Scarcer types Svor. 1425 and
1428 with average weight of 14.25 g and 3.28 g may represent double and half of Svor. 1426.
Logic suggests that the common types are the obol and triobol and that the scarcer types are
the diobol and hemiobol.
What time period had both two rulers symbolized by a double eagle and an 8 g obol?
The traditional attribution of Ptolemy VI would have an average obol weight of c. 11.3 g. Cox
suggests both Ptolemy VI and the joint reign of Ptolemy IX with Ptolemy X. At 8 g per obol,
these cannot be Ptolemy VI. One fit for this coinage is the joint reign of Ptolemy IX and X,
106-88 BC. However, the two eagle thin flan obols are from Paphos during this joint reign.
Alternatively, the coins may be attributed to the joint reign of Ptolemy X and his mother,
Cleopatra III, 106-101 BC. The types are the same: Zeus / Two eagles with cornucopia
symbol). Svor. 1380 has the name of “Queen Cleopatra” on the obverse. Triobol Svor. 1380
has average obol weight similar to Svor. 1425. (7.85g vs. 8.06g) Tetradrachms of this period
have a similar single eagle with reginal dates for both Ptolemy X and his mother.
Which of these simultaneous attributions fits better? The 25 mm thin flan obols are
probably from Paphos. The thick flan obols of 22 mm are probably from the other larger
Paphos Mint that has been called Alexandria. Both Paphos mints produced tetradrachms
marked ∏A.
Æ36 tetrobol Svor. 1148 of Ptolemy IV(?) with a later countermark of a cornucopia before the
eagle. The countermark revalued the coin as a drachm on the same standard as the 24g
triobols Svor. 1424 with cornucopia before eagles. (44.0g)
Existing older bronzes were revaluated at this time. A cornucopia countermark was
placed before the left wing of common 48 g tetrobols of Ptolemy IV-VI, revaluing it as a
136 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
drachm. 24 g Svor. 1375 was a similar half denomination, with a similar countermark. The
diobol became a triobol. The rare corresponding Æ47 octobols of c. 95 g, the largest
Ptolemiac coins, would have been revalued as a didrachm, though countermarked Æ47 are
not known.
Æ20 obol Svor. 1191 has obverse K for Cleopatra or Cyprus. The reverse is dated to Year 3,
perhaps of Ptolemy IX. (7.82g)
Another slightly scarcer series with similar obverse has a K for Kition behind the head of
Hercules. Svor. 1190 and 1191 are diobols and obols, struck on thicker flans. The reverse
symbols are Ω ∑ and L Γ. The latter symbols are for Year 3. This date is important. The style
does not work for Ptolemy VIII, nor does the lack of the title Euregetes. The date does not
work for Ptolemy X who was not king in his own year 3 because he dated his rule from his
governorship of Cyprus. The weight standard is correct for Ptolemy IX. A Zeus obverse with K
behind follows the next year. Weight standard is similar. The same Ω ∑ symbol is paired with
L ∆ on Svor. 1193.
Four denominations of bronze coins have obverse Greek legend “Berenike Queen” with a
diademed portrait of a Ptolemaic queen. The reverse Greek legend reads “Ptolemy King.”
One example was found at Paphos II, though the flan shape shows a mint other than Paphos,
probably the same mint that struck the K bronzes noted above and the Cleopatra 40 and 80
drachma.
There are four reverse types. One has a large cornucopia. Svor. 1051-2 (16 g diobol);
Svor. 1054 (4 g hemiobol). The second has a similar large cornucopia with a club and an eagle
at its sides. Svor. 1047 to 1049 (8 g obol) and Svor. 1053 (4g hemiobol). The third has just an
eagle with closed wings. Svor. 1055 (8 g obol). The fourth has an eagle with open wings.
Svor. 1056-7 (4 g hemiobol, 2 g 1/4 obol). Overall weight standard is about 8 grams per obol.
This weight standard and en chapelete method of flan manufacture excludes the prior
attribution to Berenike II, wife / sister of Ptolemy III. 8 gram obols suggest an attribution to
Berenike III, either with Ptolemy X (101-87 BC) or Ptolemy XI (80 BC). Berenike IV (58-55 BC)
is not excluded by the weight standard, though the reverse legend suggests the former
attribution.
Small denomination bronzes without symbol were issued during much of this time.
137 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
Appendix II
Octavia or Cleopatra?
The attribution of several female portraits on coins to Octavia is questioned here.
While still technically still married to Octavia, Antony married Cleopatra in 37 BC. Plutarch,
Comparison of Demetrius and Antony notes that he was married to Cleopatra and Octavia at
the same time, a position that was invalid under both Greek and Roman law, but nevertheless
implies that he did consider himself married to Cleopatra before he divorced Octavia in 32
(Plutarch, Antony 57.2). Strabo 17.1.11 also calls Cleopatra Antony's wife. (Chris Bennett,
Cleo.7 #41)
The coin legends allow for a date for the coinage from either period. None of the coins
show the titles of the woman in question, though all include the portrait and titles of Marc
Antony. Two types of gold Antony portrait aurei have an unnamed female portrait on the
reverse. (C527, C533/3a-b). Two types of silver cistophorii are known. These were struck for
circulation in Asia Minor, at Ephesos and / or Pergamum. One (RPC2002) shows the jugate
bust of a woman with Antony. The second (RPC2001) shows a draped female bust atop a cista,
between snakes. The woman’s diadem is a royal symbol, which is unexpected for a Roman
woman such as Octavia.
(8.03g)
Gold aureus (38-37 BC) with heads of Marc Antony and his wife: Octavia or Cleopatra?
M·ANTONIVS·M· F·M·N·[AVGVR]·IMP·TER Bare head of Marc Antony right. /
COS·DESIGN·ITER·ET·TER·III·VIR·R·P·C Diademed female head right, hair in bun. The titles
of Antony make up both legends. C 533/3a. This is the first Roman Imperial coin with the
portrait of a living woman. Note the diadem, a royal symbol.
(11.25g)
138 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
(11.88g)
Silver cistophorii with heads of Antony and his wife: Octavia or Cleopatra?
Bronze “Fleet Coinage” sometimes has a female bust with Antony. The female bust
faces Antony on all the larger bronze denominations, and is jugate on some ases. There are a
variety of hairstyles. On the three-as “Fleet Coinage” piece, a second young male head
appears jugate with Antony. Both male heads face the female head. This second male head
appears in a subordinate position, behind Antony. This younger male only appears on this
denomination, which tends to make him appear as less important than the female, who
appears with Antony on this denomination as well as one, two and four-as coins. There are
no titles for anyone but Antony on the Fleet Coinage. However, if this younger male portrait
is Octavian, a pairing with Cleopatra is ruled out. If the younger male portrait is Marc Antony
Junior (Antyllus), then the unnamed female is probably Cleopatra. Alternatively, use of a
diadem, a regal and quasi-divine symbol nearly eliminates Octavia. Without a very clear
example, it is difficult to say whether Octavia or Cleopatra was intended.
Bronze “Fleet Coinage” three-as of Bibulus. (20.22g)
Western Mint silver quinarii of c. 40 BC have a veiled female head of Concordia. Vagi
identifies this head with Octavia, who was the Concord between Antony and Octavian. The
type is a successor to the quinarius of Fulvia as Victory.
139 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
Photos
Most photos supplied by Classical Numismatic Group. Other photos supplied by Atlantis,
Edward Waddell, Forum, Freeman & Sear, David Hendin, Beast Coins, Tom Cederlind, Goldberg
Coins, Dieter Gorny, Lanz, John Lavender, Wayne Sayles, British Museum, the Author, and
others. Photos are not to scale.
Thank you for input from: Michel Amandry, William Andreas, Chris Bennett, Allen Berman, T.
V. Buttrey, Joseph Charter, Curtis Clay, Frank Cochran, Greg Conlin, Henri Delger, Basil
Demetriadi, Victor England, David Hendin, Walter Holt, Stephen Huston, David Kaplan,
Jonathan Kern, Frank Kovacs, Brenda Kreuzer, Brian Kritt, James Lamb, Peter Lampinen, John
Lavender, Cathy Lorber, Richard McAlee, David Michaels, Barry Murphy, Daniel Pelak, Adam
Philippidis, Richard Pincock, Robert Sekulovich, Joseph Sermarini, Justin St. Louis, David Vagi,
Alan Walker, Kerry Wetterstrom, and Rick Witschonke.
Not all of the readers endorsed the conclusions presented here.
Copyright Matthew Kreuzer 2000-2009.
Bibliography
M. Amandry, Coinage Production and Monetary Circulation in Roman Cyprus, (Nicosa, 1993)
BMC, Egypt, Catalog of Greek Coins in the British Museum, (London 1882 reprinted)
BMC, Cyprus, Catalog of Greek Coins in the British Museum, (London 1904 reprinted)
SNG Copenhagen, Danish National Museum, (1942 on, reprinted)
D. H. Cox, Coins from the Excavations at Curium, 1932-1953NNM 145, (New York, 1959)
M. Crawford, Roman Republican Coinage, (Cambridge, 1974)
Col. J. Curtis, The Tetradrachms of Roman Egypt, (Chicago, 1957)
Richard Hazzard, Ptolemaic Coins, An Introduction for Collectors, (Toronto, 1995)
Richard Hazzard, JSSEA XX, The Composition of Ptolemaic Silver (Toronto, 1990)
David Hendin, Guide to Biblical Coins, Fourth Edition (New York, 2001)
David Hendin, “Barbarous Coins of Ancient Israel” The Celator, (Lancaster, April, 2003, p. 44)
Chris Howgego, Greek Imperial Countermarks, Royal Numismatic Society Special Publication
#17. (London, 1985)
James & Thorpe, Ancient Inventions, (New York, 1994)
H. Lindgren, Ancient Greek Bronze Coins, (Quarryville, 1993)
Catharine Lorber, "The Lotus of Aphrodite on Ptolemaic Bronzes," Swiss Num. Rev. 80 (2001),
pp. 39-52
Harold Mattingly, Roman Imperial Civilisation, (New York, 1957).
Michael Marotta and Ann Zakelj, Portraits & Representations of Alexander the Great, Celator,
7/02, p. 6.
Y. Meshorer, Ancient Jewish Coinage, (New York, 1982)
Milne, Catalogue of Alexandrian Coins in the Ashmolean Museum, (Oxford, 1927 reprinted)
O. Morkholm, “Ptolemaic Coins and Chronology: The Dated Silver Coinage of Alexandria,”
ANSMN 20 (1975)
Museum of the History of Cypriot Coinage, Coin catalogue, Bank of Cyprus Cultural
Foundation, (Nicosia 1996)
Newell, Standard Ptolemaic Silver, (New York, 1941)
Newell, The Coinages of Demetrios Poliorketes, (Chicago, Obol Reprint of 1978)
Newell, Royal Greek Portrait Coins, (New York, 1937)
Ino Nicolaou and O. Morkholm, Paphos I: A Ptolemaic Coin Hoard, (Nicosia, 1976)
Ino Nicolaou, Paphos II: The Coins from the House of Dionysos (Nicosia, 1990)
Price, The Coinage in the Name of Alexander the Great and Philip Arrhidaeus (Zurich /
London, 1991)
140 / 140
THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS
M. Prieur, A Type Corpus of The Syro-PhoenicianTetradrachms and their Fractions from 57 BC
to AD 253 (Lancaster, 2000)
David Sear, Roman Coins & Their Values, Millennium Edition, (London, 2000)
David Sear, The History and Coinage of the Roman Imperators 49-27 BC, (London, 1998)
Stager and Walker, American Expedition to Idalion, Cyprus 1973-1980, Part VI by I Nicolaou.
(Chicago 1989)
C H C Sutherland, “L’attribution des deniers Augustéens aux types du “temple”, de la
“couronne” et du “jeune tareau”, RN 1974, 59
Rev. E. A. Sydenham, The Coinages of Augustus, (New York Reprint of Numismatic Chronicle,
1977)
M. Thompson, Morkholm & Kraay, An Inventory of Greek Coin Hoards, (New York, 1973)
David Vagi, Coinage & History of the Roman Empire, Volume I & 2, (Sidney, Ohio, 1999)
Susan Walker & Peter Higgs, “Cleopatra of Egypt, from History to Myth,” (London, 2001)
W. Wruck, Die Syrische Provinzialpragung von Augustus bis Traian (Stuttgart, 1931)
O. Zervos, The Early Tetradrachms of Ptolemy I, ANS Museum Notes (New York, 1967)