Ancient Greek Bronze Drachm

Obverse featuring Ptolemy VI Philometor
Reverse featuring Duel Eagles

The Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt was one of the successor states of Alexander the Great's Empire, founded by Ptolemy Soter, Satrap of Egypt and one of Alexander's former generals. Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty became a Hellenic civilisation, although Ptolemy and his successors styled themselves as the heirs to the Pharaohs who had ruled Egypt in centuries past.

Ptolemy VI succeeded his father Ptolemy V after the latter's assassination in 180 B.C. As he was only 6 years old, the Kingdom was ruled by his mother, Cleopatra I, until her own death in 176 B.C. The following year, Ptolemy married his sister, Cleopatra II, and the couple would go on to have several children.

Whilst his mother, who was a Selucid princess, was still alive, peace reigned between the rival kingdoms. However, once Cleopatra I was dead, his new regents, the Eunuchs, Lenaeus and Eulaeus seized power in Ptolemy VI's name and began to make preparations for war against the Selucid Empire. In 170, Egypt invaded Syria. The war went badly for the Egyptians however, and the Syrians counterattacked and conquered Memphis, forcing a peace treaty that effectively rendered Ptolemy VI a puppet king under Antiochus IV. The Alexandrians became dissatisfied with Ptolemy, and demanded that his younger brother be made king. Rather than remain as a puppet king, Ptolemy VI sought help from Rome to get the Selucids to retreat from Egypt, and subsequently agreed to rule jointly with his younger brother for the sake of national unity, and this arrangement lasted between 169 and 164. In 164, Ptolemy VI was driven out of Alexandria by his younger brother and forced to take refuge in Rome, where he appealed for help against his brother. Meanwhile, the Alexandrians tired of Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, and appealed for the return of Ptolemy VI. The Romans decided that the best thing to do would be to divide Egypt between the two brothers. Ptolemy VI was made sole ruler of Egypt and Cyprus, whilst the younger brother was given Cyrenicia (modern day Libya) to rule over. Much of the rest of Ptolemy VI's reign was spent suppressing frequent rebellions against his rule. He died in 145 B.C. He was succeeded (very briefly) by his son Ptolemy VII, who was murdered by Uncle Ptolemy VIII Euergetes, who took over.

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Description	Grade	Price £	Price $	Availability
Bronze diobol 8.54g	Good Fine	£35*	$Ask	Yes

*Correct as of 2011

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