Ptolemaios VIII 'Physcon' was king of Ptolemaic Egypt no less than three times; from 69-164 BC with siblings Ptolemy VI & Cleopatra II, from 144-131 BC with sister-wife Cleopatra II and niece / step-daughter-wife Cleopatra III, and finally from 126-116 BC with sister-wife Cleopatra II and niece-wife Cleopatra III.
While his official epithet was Euergetes, he was popularly known as "Physkōn" meaning sausage, potbelly or bladder, due to his obesity.
Physcon died in 116 BC. He left the throne to Cleopatra III and one of her sons, whichever she preferred.
While his official epithet was Euergetes, he was popularly known as "Physkōn" meaning sausage, potbelly or bladder, due to his obesity.
Physcon died in 116 BC. He left the throne to Cleopatra III and one of her sons, whichever she preferred.
Epithet: Physcon ("the Sausage")
(1)
Ptolemy VIII
Obverse: Bearded head of Herakles right, wearing Nemean lion scalp headdress
Reverse: PTOLEMAIOU BASILEWS, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings closed
Diameter:
28 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 12 g
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 12 g
"This coin appears to have a style, low relief, and fabric similar to Weiser 127, except the Weiser coin is a bit cruder, with a straight vertical legend on the reverse left. Weiser attributes the Köln coin as a local imitative. In addition to some similarity to Weiser 127, our coin is very light for the type. It may also be an unofficial local issue."
EX FORVM Auction 58169
EX FORVM Auction 58169
cf. Weiser 127 (unofficial local issue from the reign of Ptolemy V), Svoronos 1492, SNG Cop 333
(2)
Ptolemy VIII
An
AE
unit
struck 145-116 BC
in
Alexandria
Obverse: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right
Reverse: Two eagles with their wings closed standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left
Diameter:
30 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 24.3 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 24.3 g
No notes for this coin
Svoronos 1424B (Joint reign of Ptolemy VI and VIII); Weiser 142 (Ptolemy V); SNG Copenhagen 308-310 (Joint reign of Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII); Noeske 212-5 (Joint reign of Ptolemy VI and Ptolemy VIII); Lorber & Faucher Series 7C.
(3)
Ptolemy VIII
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An
AE
Hemidrachm
|
Triobol
struck 163-145 BC
in
Cyrene
Obverse: Diademed head of Zeus-Ammon right
Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY EYEPΓETOY, eagle standing right on thunderbolt, wings spread; Φ to right
Diameter:
44 mm
Die Orientation: 11 H
Weight: 38.36 g
Die Orientation: 11 H
Weight: 38.36 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Copenhagen 651; Svoronos 1641
(4)
Ptolemy VIII
Obverse: Diademed head of Zeus Ammon to right, with ram's horn in his hair and over the diadem
Reverse: BA[ΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛ] ΕΥΕΡΓΕΤΟΥ Eagle with spread wings standing left on thunderbolt
Diameter:
15 mm
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 2.08 g
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 2.08 g
From the Rhakotis collection
Noeske 291-6 ('uncertain mint in Cyprus'). SNG Copenhagen 658-9 ('uncertain mint in Cyprus'). Svoronos 1655 ('Alexandria'). Weiser -