Description

Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysios, AR Tetradrachm, 64-63 BC. 27mm, 12.98gm. Egypt, Ptolemaic Kingdom, Alexandria mint. 64-63 BC (regnal year 18). Diademed head of Ptolemy right, wearing aegis. ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; in field to left, regnal date LIΓ; in field to right, ΠA Svoronos 1860; SGCV II 7944-7946 var. (regnal date); SNG Copenhagen – The Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt was founded in 305 BC by Ptolemy I Soter, former General to Alexander the Great. At its peak it covered a large geographic area with Alexandria as its capital city. The Kingdom ended with the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC. Ptolemy XII, Neos Dionysos, nicknamed Auletes (“the flute-player”) was the illegitimate son of Ptolemy IX. He was proclaimed King after Ptolemy XI was removed from the throne by the Alexandrians. A weak ruler, he was soon lost the throne, but regained it again with help from the Romans. The Romans assisted in restoring him to the throne because his creditors there realised that unless they did so, they would not recover the money which had been loaned to him.