Pre-Long Beach Auction #91

Ptolemaic Kingdom. Arsinoe II, wife of Ptolemy II. Gold Mnaieion (27.79 g), died. Alexandria, under Ptolemy VI-VIII, ca. 180-116 BC Diademed and veiled head of Arsinöe II right; above, tip of a lotus scepter; behind, K. Reverse: APΣINOH ΦIΛAΔEΛΦOY, double cornucopiae bound with fillet. Svoronos 1242, 1374, and 1498-9; Troxell p. 67, 8; SNG Copenhagen 321-2. A beautiful, lustrous example struck in high relief. NGC grade Ch AU; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 4/5.
Arsinöe II, the wife of Ptolemy II, died ca. 270-268 BC, and upond her death was deified. These large gold coins, mnaieions or octadrachms, continued to be struck in her name over the course of the next 150 years or so. Estimated Value $10,000-UP