Obverse: Radiate bust of Ptolemy III, right,
wearing an aegis, with trident over left shoulder.
Reverse: Radiate cornucopia, bound with fillet.
Ptolemy IV was the son of Ptolemy III and
Berenike II. This pleasure-seeking king was
notorious for neglecting his duties and
delegating affairs of state to his unscrupulous
minister Sosibios. Despite this, the reign was
marked by one significant military victory over
the invading army of Antiochus III of Syria.
Ptolemy died at the age of forty leaving only an
infant son to succeed him.
The cornucopia on the reverse is a symbol of
prosperity, The radiate crown can be interpreted
as a mark of divinity, representing the king as a
god incarnate. This is an exceptionally rare and
well-preserved coin.
