Mnaieion -- Octadrachm (100 Mina Coin) of Ptolemy II
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
MEDIUM
Gold
DATES
283–246 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Ptolemaic Period
DIMENSIONS
1/4 x Diam. 1 in. (0.6 x 2.5 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
ACCESSION NUMBER
2011.47
CREDIT LINE
Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund and Designated Purchase Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Circular gold coin with images on both sides. One face shows two, slightly staggered, overlapping profiles facing right. Frontmost depicts a man with long sideburns and neat, curly hair. He wears a diadem on his head and a cloth garment knotted at the shoulder just visible toward the bottom of the coin. Next to, and slightly in front of him, there is a profile of a woman with hair pulled back and a diadem on her head. She has a sharply defined, arched eyebrow. Her profile is cut off just behind the face by the male profile. Both faces appear similar to one another with large open eyes, sharp and pointed noses, round, protruding chins, and poorly defined jaws. Above their heads are the letters ΑΔΕΛΦΩΝ. Behind the nape of the neck of the male figure, there is a single olive leaf. All of these elements are encircled by an off-center dotted border, disappearing from the bottom-right third of the coin. The alternate side of the coin also features two profiles in the same positions. The frontmost face is male with tousled, curly hair and a diadem. He has no visible facial hair and wears a cloth garment visible at the base of his neck. The second profile behind the first is that of a woman. She has her hair pulled back and wears a diadem. Her eyebrow is defined, but worn. She wears a draped garment visible on either side of her neck. Both of these faces resemble one another with large eyes, pointed noses, round chins, and defined jaws. Above their heads are the letters ΘΕΩΝ. This is also encircled by a dotted border centered on the coin, ending where the necks of each profile begin. The coin is very well-preserved with the prominent deterioration being the slight wear on both of the male profiles’ curls and a small dent on the top left edge of the first side.
Condition: Near extra fine, small scratch in obverse field.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Mnaieion -- Octadrachm (100 Mina Coin) of Ptolemy II, 283–246 B.C.E. Gold, 1/4 x Diam. 1 in. (0.6 x 2.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund and Designated Purchase Fund, 2011.47. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.2011.47_wwg8_2013.jpg)
IMAGE
installation, CUR.2011.47_wwg8_2013.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2015
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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