Notae Numismaticae - Zapiski Numizmatyczne (3/4.1999)

TOM ni/rv

KRAKÓW 1999

ALEKSANDRA KRZYŻANOWSKA

National Museum

Warsaw

REMARKS ON THE COINS OF PTOLEMY VI
FOUND IN EGYPT

Ptolemaic bronze coins with two eagles on the reverse are usually as-
cribed to the emissions of Ptolemy VI Philometor, with the exception of
the large denominations struck under Ptolemy II. This image is interpreted
as a symbol of two rulers reigning simultaneously, either during the re-
gency of Ptolemy VI's mother, Cleopatra I, who ruled the country jointly
with her son during his minority, or during the joint reign of Ptolemy VI
and his brother, Ptolemy VIII.1 It is interesting to note that so few bronze
coins are ascribed to succeeding reigns. It is possible to conjecture that
the society, accustomed to using smali denominations, used the coins struck

1 J. N. Svoronos, Ta nomismata tou kratous ton Ptolemaion, Athens 1904-1908, pp. 280 and
292.

A. Kormann, O. M0rkholm, Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum: The Royal Gollection of Coins and
Medals, Danish National Museum. Egypt: The Ptolemies, Copenhagen 1977, pl. XI, nos. 304-320.

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