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Tetrobol - Ptolemy IV Philopator
| Issuer | Ptolemaic Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Year | 222 BC - 204 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
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| Obverse description | Bearded head of Zeus-Ammon facing right, distinguished by the characteristic ram's horn curling before the ear, the divine attribute of Ammon. The effigy is bound with a taenia surmounted by a basileion, the royal diadem of Ptolemaic iconography. The hair is rendered in bold, deeply cut flowing locks radiating outward in a vigorous Hellenistic style. The portrait is contained within a dotted border, the whole struck on a broad, heavy flan typical of the Ptolemaic bronze series. |
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| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Ptolemy IV's reign is notorious for its administrative neglect — he delegated effective control to ministers Agathocles and Sosibius while pursuing literary and religious interests — yet his bronze coinage was produced in substantial volume to fund a kingdom that was, despite its ruler, still operationally powerful. The Fourth Syrian War against Antiochus III culminated in the decisive Ptolemaic victory at Raphia in 217 BC, one of the largest battles of the Hellenistic world, and the mint output of this period reflects the logistical demands of fielding an army that included, for the first time in Ptolemaic history, native Egyptian soldiers in significant numbers.
That decision to arm Egyptians had lasting consequences: the empowered native population became increasingly assertive, fueling the internal revolts that would plague Ptolemy V's reign immediately after.