Auction Name: 2026 January 12 NYINC World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session and Signature® Auction - New York

Lot Number: 34022

Shortcut to Lot: HA.com/3129*34022

PTOLEMAIC EGYPT. Berenice II (267/266-221 BC). AV pentadrachm (25mm, 21.37 gm, 11h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 2/5, brushed, marks. Alexandria, under Ptolemy III, ca. 242-241 BC. Veiled, diademed, and draped bust of Berenice right, seen from front, within dotted border / BEPENIKHΣ-BAΣIΛΣΣHΣ, cornucopia bound with diadem, flanked by two six-pointed stars; Chi-Rho monogram in lower left field. CPE I 747. Svoronos 962. A beautiful portrait and finely carved dies.

One of the most formidable Ptolemaic queens, Berenice II's family background was unusually convoluted and bloody even by Macedonian standards. Born in 267 BC, she was the daughter of the Cyrenaican king Magas and his wife Apama. In 249 BC, upon the death of Magas her mother married her off to Demetrius the Fair, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes, who was invited to become king of Cyrenaica. Demetrius, however, was more interested in Apama than her daughter and, catching him in her mother's bed, Berenice stabbed him to death. Despite this, her legendary beauty prompted Ptolemy III of Egypt to marry her in 244/3 BC and the duo became the foremost "power couple" in the world. Berenice appears to have ruled Egypt quite capably during her husband's long campaigns of conquest. During one such campaign she cut off her hair and dedicated it to Aphrodite for her husband's safe return. The hair mysteriously disappeared and was "discovered" in the heavens forming the constellation Coma Berenices. The tale entered legend as "The Lock of Berenice." She had six children, one of whom, Ptolemy IV, succeeded to the throne in 221 BC. Berenice originally ruled jointly with him but was soon murdered, probably at the instigation of her son. Gold and silver coins were minted in her name on both the Ptolemaic and Macedonian standards.

Include Thumbnail(s)