I know nothing about the coins of Cleopatra .. I am not particularly in the market now - but certainly like seeing the coins when they pop up on VCoins. Perhaps some day? There are 3 of this type for sale at Incitatus Coins on VCoins right now.. This one is $292 USD --------- However this one sold for $435 USD recently at the same VCoins store.... I assume rarity? What makes the second coin - in much worse condition worth 50% more? Again - I know nothing about these, just looking for more information on the topic... thank you!
The bottom coin is a portrait of Cleo, herself, the top one is just a coin that was struck & circulated, in her lifetime. A silver tetradrachm, with her actual face, is worth thousands.
Well thank you.... starting to get it. However aren't we almost always collecting coins struck for someone and not particularly their portrait?... as per the coins of the Tetrarchy, etc? Wondering how it was determined which was her actual portrait? Its very interesting!
I don't own any Cleos and never have. The tiny bronze ones, that are fairly common, have some references say it's her and some say that isn't. The larger one above, is. And @medoraman owns some Cleo's, he can help more. As for the Tetrarchy and the like, true. But Cleo is....Cleo $$$. Portrait of hers matters over a no name Tetrarchy emperor that the average person on the street doesn't even know they existed.
Cleo VII portrait coins are pricey today. Like JC portrait coins, they have went up much faster in the last 20 years than most other ancients. The largest is the tetradrachm from Antioch with Antony on the other side. Next most desirable is the denarius with same portraits from Alexandria. Then there are the 40 and 80 pieces like above. There are also some provincial bronzes, some with Antony on reverse, others without. I am not convinced the "portrait" coin from Cyprus is her, only one book ever claimed it was, and most experts do not believe it. There is an issue of hers with Zeus on it from Cyprus but not her portrait. There are other coins like the tetradrachm you show, but most of her coins without a portrait are priced based upon normal economics, its really only ones with her portrait that bring the huge premiums. I accidentally got into her coins, but have I think 6 unique portrait coins of hers. The main one I am missing is the Alexandria issue, and then a few rare bronze provincials. It's a fun mini collection.
There is a tetradrachm of Cleopatra III and Mark Antony, which usually sell for really big bucks if in halfway decent shape. I came across one a few years ago that turned out to be a fake, so caution is needed when a purchase is being considered. Her 80 and 40 bronze drachma coins are more readily available, but they vary widely in condition and strike, with most being very crude and showing meager detail. The reverses are often the weakest, with any coin showing her name, even partially legibly, usually commanding a premium.
