LYCIA, Telmessos. Ptolemy II. Circa 196-189 BC. Æ (15.5mm, 3.52 g, 11h). Radiate head of Helios facing slightly right, drapery around neck / Apollo, testing arrow and placing hand on grounded bow, seated left on omphalos decorated with ΠT. Müseler X, 16 corr. (ΠT present, not noted); SNG Copenhagen 134 var. (ΠT not noted, possibly worn off). Dark green-brown patina, light roughness, a little off center on reverse. VF. Extremely rare with ΠT visible.

Ptolemy II of Telmessos could trace his ancestry to Lysimachos of Thrace and Ptolemy I of Egypt through his father. Ascending to rule Telmessos upon his father’s death in 206 BC, Ptolemy began his reign as a client of Egypt, but soon swore his allegiance to Antiochos III upon the latter’s occupation of Lycia in 197 BC. Ptolemy enjoyed good relations with his Seleukid overlord, which may be the reason this coin issue uses the same reverse type that was a common Seleukid type. This issue is not uncommon, but the position of the ΠT on the omphalos is usually a high point on the reverse that receives heavy wear from circulation, so it is possible that it actually present on all coins of this type.

Closing Date and Time: 2 April 2025 at 11:23:40 ET.

All winning bids are subject to a 20% buyer’s fee.