ticketsMember | Make a donation

Gold oktadrachm of Ptolemy IV Philopator

221–204 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 163
head of Ptolemy III, Euergetes/double cornucopiae
minted in Alexandria, Egypt

Gold and silver were the primary raw materials for Hellenistic coinage of intrinsic value. The Ptolemies had access to abundant gold from the mines in Nubia, but most silver had to be imported to Egypt from farther afield. Consequently, the Ptolemies placed greater importance on gold coinage, producing some of the finest gold issues of Hellenistic times, examples of which you see here.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Gold oktadrachm of Ptolemy IV Philopator
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: 221–204 BCE
  • Culture: Greek, Ptolemaic
  • Medium: Gold
  • Dimensions: 1 1/16 in., 0.979oz. (2.7 cm, 27.77g)
  • Classification: Coins
  • Credit Line: Theodore M. Davis Collection, Bequest of Theodore M. Davis, 1915
  • Object Number: 30.115.21
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Gold stater, Gold, Greek
Gold stater
Greek
ca. 323/2–315 BCE
Pair of gold armbands, Gold, Greek
Pair of gold armbands
Greek
ca. 200 BCE
Gold earrings with disk and boat-shaped pendant, Gold, East Greek
Gold earrings with disk and boat-shaped pendant
East Greek
ca. 300 BCE
Ganymede jewelry, Gold, rock crystal, emerald, Greek
Ganymede jewelry
Greek
ca. 330–300 BCE
Gold armband with Herakles knot, Gold inlaid with garnets, emeralds, and enamel, Greek
Gold armband with Herakles knot
Greek
3rd–2nd century BCE

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.