14C076
PTOLEMAIC KINGDOM, PTOLEMY VI-VIII
AV Mnaieon or One-Mina Piece (27.79gm) c. 170-116 B.C.

Veiled head of deified Arsinoe II right, with ram's horn, wearing diademed stephane / Filleted double cornu-copiae. Svoronos 1498.

This extravagant gold denomination, popularly called an octadrachm, was known in antiquity as a one-mina piece because it was equivalent in value to a mina (100 drachms) of silver. Coins of such high value were well suited to be given as prizes to artists and victorious athletes, and to be distributed to courtiers on festive occasions. A wonderful example, well struck, leaving a mirror-like surface and absent of the usual grafitto.

Catalogue XIV

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