101 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

No Roman Imperial bronze was found at Paphos II, but the dig at the nearby Odeion found four sestertii from 222-249 AD and no other Roman Imperial coins. At Curium and the Odeion, many small Ptolemaic coins were found. Roman Imperial sestertii were valued as drachms. The lack of ases in relation to sestertii supports the idea that the as (equal to a rather clumsy 1.5 obols) did not fit well into the Cypriot denominational system of six obols per sestertius / drachm. The lack of other small change suggests the ongoing use of antique Ptolemaic and Augustan small change, perhaps at least as late as the reign of Gallienus. Amandry summarizes this later coinage on Cyprus:

In the second century, Roman coins form the largest group, dominating the Cypriot bronzes. The same is true for the third and fourth century. Apart from occasional eastern provincial coin, Roman currency is predominant. Most of the coins come from the nearest mints, Antioch, Cyzicus and Hercaclea in the third century, Antioch, Constantinopolis, Alexandria, Cyzicus, Nicomedia in the fourth. At that time, Cyprus had been fully absorbed into the Roman imperial monetary system.

Bronzes of Cleopatra circulated as money in Dark Age Cyprus. Cox described a jumble of “over 400 miscellaneous small pieces, mostly illegible” found in the sewers of Curium. Some are Ptolemaic. Cox writes:

From their distribution it seems that these unrelated coins and bits of metal all circulated together. J. G. Milne’s remarks on the exchange media of fifth- century Egypt (“The Currency of Egypt in the Fifth Century,“ NC, 1926, p. 62) perhaps hold true for Cyprus also in the early sixth century: ‘that any piece of metal would serve for the purpose of a unit – virtually a counter – and that no guarantee of value by the government was attached to any of these pieces.’

Examination of other well-dated and documented Cypriot hoards containing Ptolemaic small change would be useful.

On Cyprus, the plentiful little portraits of Cleopatra VII, Queen of Kings, and the last Queen of Egypt and Cyprus, gradually wore away in circulation as very small change in the hands of her rivals the Romans. (1.73, 1.47g)

“The Coinage System of Cleopatra VII, Marc Antony, and Augustus in Cyprus” included several denominations. Each was struck in a political and economic context. Each reflected earlier and contemporary issues of Cyprus and her trading partners. 102 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Table of Suggested Attribution Changes

This is not a complete listing of coins from Cyprus. Rather, it is a listing of coins not attributed to Cyprus in the major references, or with other significant changes in attribution. (Cross-listings with Price; Svoronos; Sear, Greek; BMC; RIC; Sear, Roman; Crawford; Vagi and RPC I, Supplement and II). Changes and unpublished varieties are in italics.

Conventional Attribution, metal, denomination, (typical weight of uncorroded examples with little wear, not photographed example) Mint, Obverse legend. Obverse type. / Reverse legend. Reverse type. Reference(s). Suggested Change(s) in ruler, mint, and / or denomination. Other comments.

Paphos, Æ16, (4.4g) Head of Aphrodite left, wearing ornate headdress. / Rose. CCC92, otherwise Unpublished. BMC 49 var (double denomination). Lotus instead of rose. c. 330 BC.

Alexander III, gold stater, (8.6g) Alexandria or Memphis Mint, Helmeted head of Athena right. / Nike standing, EY or ∆I symbol, often with rose. Issued with varying symbols from several mints on Cyprus and numerous mints throughout the Kingdom of Alexander. EY for Salamis or Paphos Mint. Athena or Alexander as warrior? Lotus instead of rose.

Alexander III, gold stater, (8.6g) Helmeted head of Athena right. / Nike standing, ∏AI monogram. Price-; Muller-. Unpublished. Paphos Mint? Two examples In CNG catalogs. Athena or Alexander as warrior?

Alexander III, silver tetr. (17.2g) Salamis Mint, Head of Hercules right, wearing lion skin headdress knotted at base of neck. / Zeus seated left, mint symbols before Zeus and below throne. Issued from several other mints on Cyprus and numerous mints throughout the Kingdom of Alexander. Alexander’s facial features as Hercules. 103 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Alexander III, silver tetradrachm, (17.2g) Paphos Mint, similar, with the name NIKOKΛE∑ hidden in the lion-skin, behind the ear. / ∏AI monogram before Zeus. Several varieties. Price 3119 with rose below throne. Lotus instead of rose.

Alexander III, silver tetradrachm, Memphis Mint, Lifetime of Alexander, 323 or before, similar, with crossed legs, different symbols. All Salamis or Paphos Mint, after 323 BC.

Alexander III, silver drachm, (4.3g) Salamis Mint, similar. / ∏A before Zeus, Γ below throne. Price 3183. A stater and tetradrachm have the same symbols. Paphos? Is the name NIKOKΛE∑ hidden?

Alexander III, Æ17 (7.1g), Cyprus Mint, Similar obverse. / AΛEXAN∆POY or BA Club, bow, and bow-case, mint symbol below. Issued from several other mints on Cyprus and numerous mints throughout the Kingdom of Alexander. Attic hemiobol. Alexander’s facial features as Hercules. Marium Mint also struck.

Alexander III, Æ17, Paphos, similar. NIKOKΛE∑ hidden in the lion-skin, behind the ear.

Alexander III, Æ10 (1.8g), Cyprus Mint, Similar types. Issued from several other mints on Cyprus. Alexander’s facial features as Hercules Attic 1/8th obol.

Alexander III, Æ10, Paphos, similar. NIKOKΛE∑ hidden in the lion-skin, behind the ear.

Alexander III, gold stater, (8.56g) Memphis. Similar obverse. / Prow right. Svor. 25. Cyprus, probably Salamis.

Alexander III, tetr. (17.1g) Memphis Mint, Head of Alexander the Great, wearing elephant skin. / Zeus seated left, legs crossed, various symbols including rose. Cyprus Mint(s). Double lotus?

Alexander III, tetr. Attic weight standard tetradrachm, (17.1g) Memphis or Alexandria Mint, Head of Alexander the Great, wearing elephant skin, some with delta at top of aegis. / AΛEXAN∆POY Athena advancing right, bearing raised spear and shield. Cyprus Mints. Delta not an engraver’s signature. EY for Soloi, mint for some.

Alexander III, Attic weight standard drachm, (4.3g) EY symbol. Svor. 43. Same. EY for Eunostos of Soloi, son-in-law of Ptolemy I. 104 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Attic tetradrachm. Cut to 22 obols at right of name Alexander.

Alexander III, tetr. 22-obol weight standard. (15.7g) Head of Alexander the Great, wearing elephant skin, small delta at top of aegis. / AΛEXAN∆POY Athena advancing right, bearing raised spear and shield. Often overstruck on older Attic tetradrachms, reduced in weight. Emergency issue, struck in Cyprus c. 306 BC, Delta not an engraver’s signature.

Alexander III, tetr. (15.7g) Similar. ∏TOΛEMAIOY Caduceus symbol. Svor. 96. Emergency issue, struck in Cyprus c. 306 BC, Delta not an engraver’s signature. Salamis Mint, the last city to fall to the invaders.

Alexander III, AR drachm, 22-obol weight standard, (3.7g) Similar. Svor. 34. All 22-obol standard except ∆O and EY.

Similar, but base core. (Possible official issue?)

Alexander III, AR drachm, Attic? weight standard, (3.7g) Corinth, Ptolemaic Occupation, c. 306 BC, Similar. ∆O symbol. Svor. -; S 2640; Kraay plate 14, #255. Found only near Corinth, ∆O symbol shared with Corinthian staters and drachms. (cf. Ravel 1091)

Alexander III, AR 22-obol standard hemidrachm (1.75g) Similar, ∆I. Svor. 35 Cyprus.

Ptolemy I, Æ17 1/16th drachm (4.2g) Paphos Mint. struck c. 306 BC, Similar. / AΛE Eagle standing left, wings open, EY and ∏A monogram at sides. Svor. 46.

Ptolemy I, Æ20 1/8th drachm (8.5g) Paphos Mint. struck c. 305 BC, Head of Aphrodite right, wearing stephanos, lotus behind. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY Eagle standing left on thunderbolt. Svor. 74. 1/4 obol Svor. 80. 1/8 obol Svor. 82.

Ptolemy I, gold reduced stater, (7.1g) Kyrene, c. 305-283 BC, Diademed bust of Ptolemy I, aegis at neck, delta behind ear. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Alexander the Great in quadriga of elephants, monogram below. Svoronos 102. Ptolemy I as Zeus. 105 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Ptolemy II, gold pentadrachm (trichrysa), (17.8g) Alexandria, Diademed bust of Ptolemy I, aegis at neck, delta behind ear. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left, on thunderbolt, ∑T and ∏A monogram before. Svor. 367. Ptolemy I as Zeus. The second reverse monogram is ∏A for Paphos. ∆ is probably not a signature. After the 294 BC re-conquest of the island by Ptolemy. Worth 50 drachms of silver, and not a trichrysa.

Ptolemy I, AR 21-obol tetradrachm (14.8g) Alexandria, Diademed bust of Ptolemy I, aegis at neck. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, monogram before. 294-290 BC.

Ptolemy I, gold hemidrachm, (1.78g) Alexandria, Diademed bust of Ptolemy I, aegis at neck. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, monogram before. SNG Cop. 45 Ptolemy I as Zeus. After the 294 BC re-conquest of the island by Ptolemy.

Ptolemy I, AE8, (0.87g) Cyprus Mint, Diademed bust of Alexander the Great right. / Eagle standing left, wings open. Cf. Svor 216 for 1.55g double denom. 1/16th obol.

Ptolemy I, AR tetradrachm, (14.2g) Alexandria Mint, After 305 BC, Similar types. ∑T and ∏A monograms. Svor. 368. Ptolemy I as Zeus. The second reverse monogram is for Paphos. ∆ is probably not a signature. After the 294 BC re-conquest of the island by Ptolemy, and after the 290 BC introduction of this 14.2g denomination.

Ptolemy I, AR tetradrachm, similar, ∑T KI and AX monograms before eagle. Svor. 366. Similar. Kition Mint.

Ptolemy I, AR tetradrachm, similar, ∆I and AX monograms before eagle. Svor. 373 Similar. Alexandria Mint.

Ptolemy I, AR drachm, (3.35g) Similar obverse. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEO∑ Eagle standing left, wings open. Svor. 372 Ptolemy I as Zeus. After the title of King, c. 305 BC.

Ptolemy I, AR 1/16 drachm, (0.21g) Yehud Coinage, Judaea, after 333 BC, Diademed head of Ptolemy I right. / Eagle with wings spread, standing left, on thunderbolt. Hendin 438. After 294 BC, when Ptolemy initiated other coinage with his own portrait. 106 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Ptolemy I and II, AR tetradrachm, (14.2g) Alexandria, Phoenicia or Cyprus Mint, countermarked in Byzantion, Thrace, after 250 BC, Similar, with the addition of a countermark including city and magistrate’s name monogram. Ptolemaic tetr. worth 20 Attic obols. 264/3 BC.

Ptolemy II, gold octadrachm (mnaeion), (27.8g) Alexandria Mint 270 BC, Veiled bust of Arsinöe II right, A to E behind. / AP∑INOH∑ ØIΛA∆EΛØOY Double cornucopia, bound with fillets, tendrils at base. Troxell Group I. Several varieties and styles. Sidon Mint. Not a mina or a mnaeion. 264/3 BC. A to E share obverse dies with tetradrachms dated Year X = 22.

Byzantion, Thrace, AR tetradrachm, (14.2g) After Alexander or c. 250 BC, Veiled and diademed head of Demeter right. / ∑I ∏Y Poseidon seated right on rocks, holding aphlaston and trident; legend below. S 1587; BMC 26. There are similar tetradrachms from Kalchedon, with Apollo seated, BMC 19.

Similar, BMC 27 / 20 (5.34g) “octobols,” actually trihemidrachms of nine Ptolemaic obols. Technically Ptolemaic. Could the obverse be better described as “diademed and veiled bust of Arsinöe II as Demeter (or Hera)?” This back-dates the coin to c. 263 BC.

Similar, AR Attic octobol. Ptolemaic 3/2 drachm / siglos.

Similar tetradrachm and octobol from Kalchedon. Apollo seated reverse. Same.

Arsinöe II, Asia Minor Mint, Æ11, (2g) c. 264 BC, Veiled and diademed bust of Arsinöe II right. / BA∑I[Λ] ∏TO[ΛE] Eagle standing left. Svor. 387 (Arsinöe II); SNG Cop.-; ANS 2000 pl. 9 #5-61 (Thrace, Ptolemy Ceraunus). Byzantion. Arsinöe II as Hera.

Byzantion, Thrace, Æ11, (2g) c. 264 BC, Laureate head of Apollo right. / BA∑ ∏TO Single cornucopia Schnert-Geiss 1970-72; J of ANS 2000 pl. 9 #3-4 (Ptolemy Ceraunus). Of similar size and design to the later Cleopatra VII / Cornucopia. The flan is very different, rounder, with a hollow reverse and not cast en chapelete. See flan of above picture.

Uncertain, Æ12, (1/4 obol) (1.93g) Uncertain Mint, Ptolemiac, 12:00 die axis, Double cornucopia, dotted border. / BA∑IΛ . . . Eagle standing left, wings closed, dotted border. Svor.-; BMC-; SNG Cop.-; Paphos II-. Probably not Cypriot. Unpublished. Berytus?? 107 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Berenike II, AR Attic pentadrachm, (21.3g) Alexandria Mint, struck under Ptolemy III, 246-221 BC, Diademed and veiled bust right. / BEPENIKH∑ BA∑IΛI∑∑H∑ Single cornucopia bound with fillet between two pilei. Svor. 989; BMC 7. Both a Ptolemaic standard hexadrachm and Attic pentadrachm. Trade coin. Sidon Mint.

Berenike II, gold Attic pentadrachm, (21.3g) Similar, stars instead of pilei. Svor. 973. Ptolemaic standard hexadrachm. A 42.6 Ptolemaic gold dodekadrachm was worth 120 silver drachms. Svor. 972. with other gold denominations at 3, 6, 12 and 30 silver drachms, and a silver denomination at 15 drachms. Because a Ptolemaic drachm was 5/6 of an Attic drachm, these are 2 1/2, 5, 10, 25 and 100 Attic drachms. Trade coins. Sidon Mint.

Ptolemy II, gold octadrachm (27.8g) A∆EΛØΩN Jugate heads of Ptolemy II and Berenike II / ØEΩN Jugate heads of Ptolemy I and Berenike I. 240 BC, perhaps Third Syrian War loot. Ptolemy III. Sidon Mint. The obverse and reverse should be switched.

Ptolemy II, gold tetradrachm (13.9g) Same.

Ptolemy II to X, AR tetradrachm (14.2g) Alexandria Mint, Diademed bust of Ptolemy I, aegis at neck. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left, on thunderbolt, symbol(s) before and behind. Various symbols. Much of the coinage attributed by Svoronos to Alexandria was struck in Sidon (until 200 BC) generally later than dates in Svoronos. Portraits seem to show features of current rulers, likened to Zeus and perhaps Ptolemy I.

Ptolemy II to V, various bronze denominations, (12 g / obol) Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / ∏TOΛEMIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, various symbols. Generally later than in Svoronos. Mostly from Sidon mint.

Ptolemy VI to IX, various bronze denominations, (12 g / obol) Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / [∏TOΛEMIOY] BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, various non-lotus symbols. Generally later than in Svoronos. From Kyrene mint. c. 165 to 96 BC.

Ptolemy III, Æ obol, (11.8g/obol) Cyprus, Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Facing cult-statue of Aphrodite. Svor. 1006. 108 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Paphos Mint. 3/2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 obol. Svor. 1005-9. Related to Earthquake Relief sent to Crete c. 225 BC.

Antiochus III-VIII_, Æ11, (1.70g) Antioch Mint, c. 2nd century BC, Laureate head of Apollo right. / . . . NTIO. . . BA∑ΛE (sic). . . T Single cornucopia. Unpublished. An unpublished 2nd century BC Seleukid Antioch Æ with types similar to the later Cypriot Æ of Cleopatra from Paphos.

Ptolemy VI or VIII, gold octadrachm (mnaeion), (27.8g) Alexandria Mint c. 145 BC, Veiled bust of Arsinöe II right, large K behind. / AP∑INOH∑ ØIΛA∆EΛØOY Double cornucopia, bound with fillets, tendrils at base. SNG Cop. 322; Svor. 1499 (Egypt); S 7888A. Several varieties and styles. The common “bulging eye” type bears similarity to some late tetradrachms, dating as late as c. 87 BC.

Ptolemy VI (?), gold tetradrachm, Alexandria Mint (13.9g) c. 145 BC, Veiled bust of Arsinöe II right, large K behind. / AP∑INOH∑ ØIΛA∆EΛØOY Double cornucopia, bound with fillets, tendrils at base. BMC p. 45, #40, plate viii #10; Svor. 1500. Same.

Ptolemy VI, Æ29, (23.8g) Cyprus Mint, Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / [∏TOΛEMIOY] BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, scepter behind, lotus symbol before, EYΛ between eagle’s legs. Svor. 1396; SNG Cop. 293; BMC 16. Diobol. Struck c. 168 BC from dies with the name of “Ptolemy” effaced by Seleukid invaders, thus Antiochus IV. Svor. Plate XLVII #21-24 are similar.

Ptolemy VI, Æ36, (42.07g) Cyprus Mint, Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / [∏TOΛEMIOY] BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, rectangular counter-mark E behind eagle, lotus symbol before, EYΛ between eagle’s legs. Svor. -; SNG Cop.- Paphos II 174 as Ptol. IV, [(38.7g) porous, without countermark]. Unpublished. Tetrobol. Struck c. 168 BC from dies with the name of “Ptolemy” effaced by Seleukid invaders, thus Antiochus IV. Svor. Plate XLVII #21-24 are similar. The E countermark may be a later valuation of this 4 obol coin as 5 obols. More likely it is a mark for Ptolemy VIII Euregetes.

Ptolemy VI, Æ46, (84g) Alexandria Mint, Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / ∏TOΛEMIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing right on thunderbolt, EYΛ between eagle’s legs. Svor. 1395. Cyprus Mint. Octobol. c. 168 BC. 109 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Ptolemy V, Head of Cleopatra I as Isis right. / ∏TOΛEMIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left, wings spread, some with ∏A monogram before. Svor. 1233, 1234, 1235, 1237, 1238, 1384, 1385, 1387. Ptolemy VIII for Cleopatra II.

reduced. Ptolemy VIII, Æ45 (68.8g) Cyprus? Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ EYEPΓTOY Double cornucopia. Svor. 1640. Drachm. Kyrene. c. 145 BC

Ptolemy VIII, Æ45 (71.2g) Kyrene Mint, Diademed and horned head of Zeus-Ammon right. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ EYEPΓTOY Single cornucopia, Ø at right. Svor. 1640. CNG XXIX #395, ex-Malter 2 2/78 #240, otherwise unpublished. c. 145 BC, Drachm. The Phi is for Ptolemy VI Philopater. There are similar issues with K for Kleopatra II and Theta-E for the Gods Ptolemy VIII and Cleopatra II.

Ptolemy VI, Æ22, (9g / obol) Head of Alexander the Great right, wearing elephant skin headdress. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left, wings spread. Svor. 1493, 1495. Late reign of Ptolemy VIII, c. 125 BC, Various denominations. 110 / 140 THE COINAGE SYSTEM OF CLEOPATRA VII, MARC ANTONY AND AUGUSTUS IN CYPRUS

Ptolemy VIII, Æ25, (11.1g / obol) Head of Hercules right. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left, sometimes with ∏A monogram before. (1492, 1494, 1496-7). “Paphos” Mint.

Ptolemy IX, 1st reign, silver tetradrachm, (14.0g) Alexandria Mint, Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis at neck. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Eagle standing left, date before, ∏A monogram behind. S 7944-6; Svor. 1847-1870. Found in Paphos Hoard I, c. 95 BC. Portrait of Ptolemy X as King of Cyprus (as Zeus), Second Paphos Mint?

Ptolemy V, Æ21, (8.5g) K behind obverse head, dated to Year 3. Svor. 1191. Ptolemy IX, 1st reign, obol, 114/3 BC. Kyrene.

Ptolemy V, Æ27, (17g) Similar with Zeus head right, K behind. / Similar, with same monogram, dated year 4. Svor. 1193. Ptolemy IX, 1st reign, obol, 115/4 BC. Kyrene.

Cleopatra III and Ptolemy X, joint rule, AR tetradrachm, (14g) Alexandria Mint, Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis at neck. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ One eagle standing left, ∏A behind, dual dates of Cleopatra III and Ptolemy X before. S 7940-2. Ptolemy X as Zeus. “Paphos” Mint.

Cleopatra I, Æ30, (24g) Alexandria Mint, Greek legend, “Queen Cleopatra” Diademed and horned head of Zeus- Ammon right. / ∏TOΛEMAIOY BA∑IΛEΩ∑ Two eagles standing left, cornucopia before, ∏A between legs. Svor. 1380. Triobol. Ptolemy X with Cleopatra III. 106-101 BC. “Paphos” Mint.

Similar, (24g) Svor. 1381. ∏A at left. Triobol. “Paphos” Mint.