Stater, Alexandria circa 299-295, AV 18 mm, 7.11 g. Laureate head r., wearing diadem and aegis. Rev. ΠTOΛEMAIOY / BAΣIΛEΩΣ Charioteer, holding thunderbolt in r. hand, driving elephant quadriga l.; in exergue, monogram. SNG Copenhagen –. Svoronos 111 and pl. IV, 5 (these dies). CPE 91 (these dies). Very rare. A wonderful portrait perfectly centred on a full flan and a light reddish tone. Extremely fine Ex Münzhandlung Basel IV, 1935, Prince W., 928; Bank Leu / Münzen und Medaillen, 3-4 December 1965, Niggeler (1878-1964), 518; Leu 33, 1983, 448; Superior Galleries 9-10 December 1989, Jasha Heifetz part II, 3001 and New York XXVII, 2012, Prospero (1910-2001), 627 sales. The earliest Greek gold coins of Egypt were struck in the form of the standard 'Alexandrine' staters showing the head of Athena and the standing figure of Nike. They were first issued by Alexander, and after he departed they were produced by his regent in Egypt, Cleomenes of Naucratis. Once Ptolemy became satrap of Egypt in 323 B.C., he continued to issue Athena-Nike gold staters until about 310. Except for some issues produced for Nikokreon and Menelaos in Cyprus and Ophellas in Cyrene, the pattern of Egyptian gold coinage was not changed until c.313/311, when it seems Ptolemy authorised a special issue at Alexandria. It had no inscription and portrayed the deified Alexander wearing horns, an aegis and an elephant headdress, and on its reverse showed a prow. The next issue, struck sometime between c.304 and 295, is of the type offered here. It was an innovation on many levels since it not only bore the diademed portrait of Ptolemy, but an inscription on the reverse that describes Ptolemy as king, a title he had taken in the late summer or autumn of 306. The weight was also innovative, as it was the first of his gold coins to use the lighter, Ptolemaic/Phoenician standard. For the main issue, presumably struck in Alexandria, there are at least 15 recorded variants based on different monograms and monogram combinations. Somewhat later, it seems, this type was also produced on a smaller scale in Cyrene during the rule of Magas. The head of Alexander that appears on many of Ptolemy's coins, as well as his depiction in an elephant quadriga, helped reinforce Ptolemy's claim of being the inheritor of Alexander's legacy, a tradition he initiated in 322/1 by taking possession of Alexander's body while it was in transit from Babylon to Macedon. He initially brought the corpse to Memphis, but eventually it was placed in a grand tomb in Alexandria, remaining an object of worship. After this issue of gold staters, Ptolemy's remaining gold coins (perhaps issued from about 295 to 284/3) were of a standard type showing his portrait on the obverse and an eagle on the reverse, typically with the Delta signature secreted behind Ptolemy's ear. Please find here the video of the coin