DOI Artikel:
Krzyżanowska, Aleksandra: Remarks on the coins of Ptolemy VI found in Egypt
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21230#0047
each other on a thunderbolt, turned to the left; such coins are usually
identified as having been emitted by Ptolemy VI.3 It should be pointed
out here that the excavation area, apart from the mixed upper layer, al-
lowed for the identification of distinct layers preserved in an inviolate state.
After the surface layer had been removed (which contained, in addition
to other artifacts, coins from the Roman Empire period, mostly mixed
chronologically) a stratum of significant depth was reached, which corre-
sponded to Late Ptolemaic times. Yet deeper, there appeared a clearly
distingnished Early Ptolemaic layer. In the thick central layer very numer-
ous double eagle coins were found, constituting over 50% of all the coins
recognized as Ptolemaic. Along with them were found a certain number
of specimens so ruined by corrosion that it was impossible to identify them
precisely. Without a doubt, however, their collocation indicates that they
were in circulation at the same time; most likely they were also of analo-
gous type, sińce they are identical in size. A smali number of Ptolemaic
minor bronze coins, without legend, identified in catalogues as struck in
the second and first centuries BC,4 also belong to this layer. The deeper
layer contained only coins from the reigns of Ptolemy II to Ptolemy IV,
though less numerous. A smali number of bronze coins of Ptolemy V and
Cleopatra I occurred on the transitions between these rwo layers.
One may venture the statement on this basis, then, that the coins found
in the center layer were in circulation from the 2nd century BC to the
end of the lst century BC and the beginning of the lst century AD.
Attention should be drawn to the fact that a larger number of coins
attributable to Ptolemy VI can be seen in finds from other excavations,
where they also constitute the majority of bronze coins.5
3 Svoronos, no. 1423-27. He distinguishes, however, a group of coins with a double-
eagle reverse, no. 1694-71.1, that are marked by large barbarization of style, primarily the
head of Zeus Ammon on the averse, and assigns this group to the reign of Ptolemy X. In our
materiał, although poorly preserved, such extensive barbarization cannot be observed.
4 Svoronos ascribes nos. 1732-33 to Ptolemy X; on p. 339, he dates them to the years
102-101 BC. O. M0rkholm, pl. XXII, nos. 664-665, dates them to the times of Ptolemy IX,
but he identifies nos. 666-673 as "Late 2nd-Early lst century BC. "
5 Among the 282 Ptolemaic coins found in Karanis (see note 2), 174 were identified
either as independent emissions of Ptolemy VI, or as joint emissions of Ptolemy VI and
Ptolemy VIII. This constitutes over 50%. In Tebtunis (cf. note 2) only a few bronze speci-
mens can be dated to the reigns of other Ptolemies. In Saqqara, the predominant majority
of Ptolemaic bronze coins are the types regarded as emissions of Ptolemy VI.
47
identified as having been emitted by Ptolemy VI.3 It should be pointed
out here that the excavation area, apart from the mixed upper layer, al-
lowed for the identification of distinct layers preserved in an inviolate state.
After the surface layer had been removed (which contained, in addition
to other artifacts, coins from the Roman Empire period, mostly mixed
chronologically) a stratum of significant depth was reached, which corre-
sponded to Late Ptolemaic times. Yet deeper, there appeared a clearly
distingnished Early Ptolemaic layer. In the thick central layer very numer-
ous double eagle coins were found, constituting over 50% of all the coins
recognized as Ptolemaic. Along with them were found a certain number
of specimens so ruined by corrosion that it was impossible to identify them
precisely. Without a doubt, however, their collocation indicates that they
were in circulation at the same time; most likely they were also of analo-
gous type, sińce they are identical in size. A smali number of Ptolemaic
minor bronze coins, without legend, identified in catalogues as struck in
the second and first centuries BC,4 also belong to this layer. The deeper
layer contained only coins from the reigns of Ptolemy II to Ptolemy IV,
though less numerous. A smali number of bronze coins of Ptolemy V and
Cleopatra I occurred on the transitions between these rwo layers.
One may venture the statement on this basis, then, that the coins found
in the center layer were in circulation from the 2nd century BC to the
end of the lst century BC and the beginning of the lst century AD.
Attention should be drawn to the fact that a larger number of coins
attributable to Ptolemy VI can be seen in finds from other excavations,
where they also constitute the majority of bronze coins.5
3 Svoronos, no. 1423-27. He distinguishes, however, a group of coins with a double-
eagle reverse, no. 1694-71.1, that are marked by large barbarization of style, primarily the
head of Zeus Ammon on the averse, and assigns this group to the reign of Ptolemy X. In our
materiał, although poorly preserved, such extensive barbarization cannot be observed.
4 Svoronos ascribes nos. 1732-33 to Ptolemy X; on p. 339, he dates them to the years
102-101 BC. O. M0rkholm, pl. XXII, nos. 664-665, dates them to the times of Ptolemy IX,
but he identifies nos. 666-673 as "Late 2nd-Early lst century BC. "
5 Among the 282 Ptolemaic coins found in Karanis (see note 2), 174 were identified
either as independent emissions of Ptolemy VI, or as joint emissions of Ptolemy VI and
Ptolemy VIII. This constitutes over 50%. In Tebtunis (cf. note 2) only a few bronze speci-
mens can be dated to the reigns of other Ptolemies. In Saqqara, the predominant majority
of Ptolemaic bronze coins are the types regarded as emissions of Ptolemy VI.
47