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
An
AE
80? Drachm
struck 180-173? BC
in
Alexandria
Obverse: diademed head of Zeus-Ammon
Reverse: 2 eagles standing on lightning left; ΠTOΛEMAIOY_ΒAΣIΛEΩΣ, cornucopia left
Diameter:
-
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 29.71 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 29.71 g
No notes for this coin
Sv1424a
An
AE
30? Drachm
struck 171-163 BC
in
Alexandria
Obverse: Head of Zeus right with Amon's horns
Reverse: Two eagles standing on lightning, cornucopiae before them ΠΤΟΛEMAIOY ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ
Diameter:
-
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 8.37 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 8.37 g
No notes for this coin
Svoronos 1426; SNG Cop 315; Sear 7901