A DIE SHARED BY THE PTOLEMAIC MINTS AT SIDON AND ‘AKKO-PTOLEMAIS

Abstract

This article presents the study of a group of Ptolemaic tetradrachms struck from a single obverse
die that was first used at Sidon in regnal year 23 of Ptolemy III, and after two varieties were
produced there, was transferred to ‘Akko-Ptolemais where it was used for at least another seven
varieties continuing into the reign of Ptolemy IV. The obverse die was recut several times over
its unusually long career, and at Ptolemais was paired with reverse dies that were also recut,
and which display an exceptional alternating pattern of controls. The chronology, circumstances
and sizes of these issues are examined.