PTOLEMAIC KINGS OF EGYPT. Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285-246 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 14.01 g, 11 h), Tyre, circa 275/4. Diademed head of Ptolemy I to right, wearing aegis around neck; on neck, countermark: AC (?) within monogram of ΠY; all within round incuse. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ Eagle, with closed wings, standing left on thunderbolt; to left, H above club. Lorber 556. Svoronos 637. Good fine.


The obverse countermark was applied by the city of Byzantion sometime in the late 3rd century BC, perhaps as a measure to revalidate the Ptolemaic weight standard tetradrachm as equal to the city's own civic tetradrachms of Attic weight. Parts of Thrace had been in Ptolemaic possession since the early 3rd century and the Ptolemaic coinage therefore played a significant role in the whole region.