Head, Barclay V.: Historia numorum: a manual of Greek numismatics (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1887)

714

EGYPT.

Some of the smaller bronze coins struck in the Cyrenaica have a head
either of Ptolemy Soter or of Magas, king or governor of Cyrene on the
obverse, and, on the reverse, a head of Libya with her hair arranged
according to the African fashion in formal curls (B. M. Cat., Pl. VI. 8),
the inscription on the coins of Magas being BA2IAED.S MATA.
The silver coins of Ptolemy II, struck at the Phoenician cities Sidon,
Tyre, Ptolemais, Joppa, and Gaza (b.c. 266-247), regularly bear the regnal
years of the king, b. c. 20-39, in the field of the reverse.
Ptolemy III (Euergetes), B. C. 247-222. The types of the coins of this
king resemble for the most part those of his predecessor. He struck
money in Cyprus, Phoenicia, Egypt, and Cyrenaica. Some of his coins
bear his own portrait, of which the following gold pieces of Egyptian
fabric are the most important:—

Fig. 380.


Eacliate bust of Euergetes wearing
aegis, and with trident-sceptre over
his shoulder.

riTOAEMAlOY BASIAEHS Radiate
cornucopiae. (Fig. 380.) . . . .
A Octadr. 430 grs.
A Tetradr. 215 grs.

The Phoenician silver coins struck in the reign of Euergetes at Tyre
bear the dates T, A, E, H, and K, the years of his reign down to B.C. 228,
from which time onwards they are dated according to the Tyrian era, b. C.
275-274, viz. MH, 48 = 3. c. 228, and N, 50 = B. c. 226.

Berenice II, daughter of Magas of Cyrene, Queen regnant of Cyre-
naica, and Queen Consort of Egypt. A, JR, and JE of various denomina-
tions. Types — Head of Berenice, usually veiled, rev. BEPENlKHS

Fig. 381.


BASIAISSHS ; Cornucopiae (Fig. 381); Club; Oar-blade, etc. Mints—
Ephesus {symbol, Bee); Cyrene, Euesperides, etc. (B. M. Cat., Pl.
XIII).