Coin, Bronze obol (AE20), 40 drachmas, issued in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Cleopatra VII, Thea Neotera (51–30 BC). Weight: 7.34 g; diameter: 20 mm; thickness: 3.8 mm; irregular smooth edge. Obverse (anepigraphic): Cleopatra VII facing right, diademed and draped, with her hair tied in a bun. Reverse: Eagle facing left with closed wings, perched on a horizontal thunderbolt; to the left, a cornucopia; Greek legend “ΚΛΕΟΠΑΤΡΑΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΗΣ” (KLEOPATRAS BASILISSES – approximate translation from Greek: “Of Queen Cleopatra”). Cleopatra VII (51–30 BC), the last Ptolemaic sovereign, ruled Egypt through diplomacy, culture, and political strategy. Her leadership was marked by alliances with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony and by her efforts to preserve Egypt’s independence in the face of Roman expansion.

Bronze diobol (AE26) issued in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy I Soter (305–282 BC). It weighs 13.12 g, measures 26.3 mm in diameter and 4.5 mm in thickness, with a smooth and irregular edge. The obverse, anepigraphic, displays the laureate head of Zeus facing right. On the reverse, an eagle is shown standing left with wings spread, perched on a horizontal thunderbolt; in the left field appears the mint mark “A”, accompanied by the Greek legend “ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ” (“of King Ptolemy”). Ptolemy I Soter (c. 367–282 BC) was the founder of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and king of Egypt from 305 to 282 BC, after having served as one of the closest companions and generals of Alexander the Great. Born in Macedonia, he distinguished himself in Alexander’s Asian campaigns and, after Alexander’s death in 323 BC, took control of Egypt as satrap, rapidly consolidating his authority and turning the region into one of the most stable powers of the Hellenistic world.

Bronze diobol (AE28) issued in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy I Soter (305–282 BC). It weighs 15.52 g, measures 28/26 mm in diameter and 4.4 mm in thickness, with a smooth and irregular edge. The obverse, anepigraphic, displays the laureate head of Zeus facing right. On the reverse, an eagle is shown standing left with wings spread, perched on a horizontal thunderbolt; in the left field appears the mint mark “A”, possible the Greek legend “ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ” (“of King Ptolemy”). Ptolemy I Soter (c. 367–282 BC) was the founder of the Ptolemaic Dynasty and king of Egypt from 305 to 282 BC, after having served as one of the closest companions and generals of Alexander the Great. Born in Macedonia, he distinguished himself in Alexander’s Asian campaigns and, after Alexander’s death in 323 BC, took control of Egypt as satrap, rapidly consolidating his authority and turning the region into one of the most stable powers of the Hellenistic world.

Bronze Hemiobol (AE17) issued in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 BCE). Weight: 4.14 g; diameter: 16–17 mm; thickness: 3 mm; irregular smooth edge; pearly border. Obverse (anepigraphic): Head of Zeus-Ammon facing right, with ram’s horns, curly hair, and a simple diadem, symbolizing the religious syncretism between Amun and Zeus. Reverse: Eagle facing left, perched on a horizontal thunderbolt, with the inscription “ΠTOΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ” (“of King Ptolemy”), flanked by possible monograms. Brief historical note: Ptolemy II consolidated the Ptolemaic dynasty, promoted trade and Hellenistic culture, and made Alexandria a center of intellectual and artistic activity, notably for the Library and the Lighthouse.

Rare coin attributed to the Post-Reform period (after about 265 BC), 3rd Series, tri-hemiobol (1.5 obols) in bronze (AE20), struck in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (285–246 BC). Weight 5.5 g; diameter 20 mm; thickness 3 mm; irregular smooth edge. The obverse, anepigraphic, shows the deified head of Alexander the Great facing right, wearing an elephant-skin headdress. The reverse depicts an eagle facing left, standing on a horizontal thunderbolt, with the Greek legend “ΠTOΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ” (“of King Ptolemy”) and the letter “A” between the legs, possibly a mint mark or monogram.

Bronze Tetrobol (AE38) issued in Alexandria, Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy IV Philopator (222–205/4 BC). Weight: 45.58 g; diameter: 37.5 mm; thickness: 6 mm; irregular smooth edge; beaded border. Obverse (anepigraphic): Head of Zeus-Ammon facing right, with ram’s horns, curly hair, and a band with basileion, representing the religious syncretism between Amun-Ra and Zeus and the divine legitimization of the Ptolemaic dynasty. Reverse: Eagle with outstretched wings facing left, head to the right, perched on a horizontal thunderbolt, with Greek legend “ΠTOΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ” (“of King Ptolemy”) and workshop mark Σ (sigma) between the legs; bears an incuse countermark in the left field depicting a cornucopia within a vertical rectangle. Brief historical note: Ptolemy IV consolidated Ptolemaic authority, reinforced the divine ideology of kingship, maintained diplomatic relations with Hellenistic powers, and promoted cultural and religious integration in Egypt, despite internal challenges and the growing influence of court advisors.