The mailman brought an interesting tetradrachm that highlights the detailed inspection that can be required to differentiate between ancient coins. Looking at this coin there are a few possibilities for exactly who issued this coin. One possibility: a coin of the last Pharaoh of Egypt the 17-year old Ptolemy Caesar or Ptolemy XV.
Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, joint rule of Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV (aka Caesarion), 37-30 BC, AR Tetradrachm, Alexandria mint, Dated regnal year 1 (37/6 BC)
Obv: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY around, Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, palm over shoulder; star (?), LA and headdress of Isis before, ΠA behind
Ref: Svoronos 1816
Caesarion, son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra VII, ruled jointly with his mother until her death in 30 BC. His sole rule lasted only 11 days, as 17-year-old Caesarion was betrayed by his guardians/tutors to Octavian. Octavian had him executed in Alexandria following the advice of stoic philosopher Arius Didymus, who said "Too many Caesars is not good". For an interesting article on Caesarion.
It is a good story - and if this were the case it would be a very rare coin, but there is problem - note in my description above "star (?)" - the corrosion on the reverse comes right at the point where it is a bit ambiguous - is there a star there? also is that an LA or a LΛ - the crossbar on the A is not very convincing, maybe......
A second (and, in my view, the correct attribution) - Ptolemy XII father of Cleopatra VII and grandfather to Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Strabo explains the nickname of Ptolemy XII, Auletes or "Flute Player":
"Now all of the kings after the third Ptolemy, being corrupted by luxurious living, administered the affairs of government badly, but worst of all were the fourth, seventh, and the last, Auletes, who, apart from his general licentiousness, practiced the accompaniment of choruses with the flute, and upon this he prided himself so much that he would not hesitate to celebrate contests in the royal palace, and at these contests would come forward to vie with the opposing contestants."
- Strabo, Geography, XVII.1.11
However, with this coin, there is a Cleopatra VII twist as Ptolemy XII named Cleopatra (about 17 or 18 years old) as co-regent in 52 BC (this coin from RY 30 or 52/51 BC), and then died in March, 51 BC, and Cleopatra would have reigned the remaining 5 months of RY 30 as sole ruler. More on the chronology in this article.
Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos Auletes ("Flute Player"), 80-51 BC, AR Tetradrachm, dated regnal year 30 (52/1 BC)
Obv: Diademed head right, wearing aegis
Rev: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, palm over shoulder; LΛ above crown of Isis before; ΠA behind
The Isis headdress is on the coins of Ptolemy XII dated years 26-30, and any with this symbol dated years 1-22 are from the reign of Cleopatra. Additional evidence that this is a Ptolemy XII/Cleopatra VII is provided by the hairstyle (Mørkholm, 1975) which is the earlier "tiered" style on my coin (Fig.1).
So although I don't have a coin of Caesarion, I do have a coin of Ptolemy XII's last year and Cleopatra's first year of reign as ruler of Egypt. On another note: what about that ΠΑ behind? well, oddly the mint signature for these coins of Alexandria is ΠΑ for ΠΑΦΟΣ i.e. Paphos,Cyprus. Mørkholm describes that the styles are distinct, but the reason this that the ΠΑ appears on coins from Alexandria mint is not explained.
Addendum (2020): to add to the subject of Cleopatra, here's a coin from Galatia with Artemis possibly portrayed with the features of Cleopatra VII of Egypt, as a sign of deference to Antony and Cleopatra. Amyntas initially supported Antony in the war with Octavian, but switched sides before the battle at Actium in 31 BC. After the death of Amyntas in 25 BC, Octavian made his kingdom the Roman province of Galatia.
King Amyntas of Galatia, 36-25 BC, AE, Uncertain mint in Galatia, Pisidia or Lykaonia
Obv: Draped bust of Artemis right, with bow and quiver over shoulder.
Rev: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ / AMYNTOY, stag standing right.
Size: 5.40g, 18mm
Ref: RPC I 3503
Cleopatra, by Élisabeth Sophie Chéron 1648 - 1711), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Addendum (2021): I've added this week another tetradrachm from Alexandrian Egypt. This one a coin from the 11th year of Cleopatra's reign. This year spanned 42/41 BC and eventful time in the story of Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. They met first when Cleopatra was with Julius Caesar (she bore Caesar's son Caesarion). Antony sent for her in October 41 and they spent the winter of 41 BC together in Alexandria. This winter produced the two children Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene. This coin minted in the preceding year.
Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Cleopatra VII Thea Neotera, 51-30 BC, AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 13.32 g, 12h), Alexandria mint, dated RY 11 (42/1 BC)
Obv: Diademed bust of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis
Rev: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; L IA (date) above headdress of Isis to left, ΠA to right
Ref: Svoronos 1825; SNG Copenhagen 405
Addendum (April 2024):
There have been a few Cleopatra's on teh market recently - I am thrilled to add this coin, although not the most beautiful, it is a hefty coin of Cleopatra in Bronze.
Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt, Kleopatra VII Thea Neotera. 51-30 BC. Æ Diobol – 80 Drachmai (26.5mm, 18.65g, 1h). Alexandreia mint.
Obv: Diademed and draped bust right
Rev: BACIΛICCHC [KΛEOΠATPAC], eagle standing left on thunderbolt; cornucopia to left, Π to right
Ref: Svoronos 1871; Weiser 183; SNG Copenhagen 419–21; Noeske 380–2
References
Svoronos, J.N. (1904). Ta Nomismata tou Kratous ton Ptolemaion (Ptolemaic Coinage). Athens, translated by Catherine Lorber.
Mørkholm (1975), "Ptolemaic Coins and Chronology, the Dated Silver Coinage of Alexandria", ANS Museum Notes, no. 20. p. 7-24
L. Criscuolo (1989), ‘La successione a Tolemeo Aulete ed i pretesi matrimoni di Cleopatra VII con i fratelli’
Richard Pincock (unpublished ~2003), Cypriot Bronze Coins of Cleopatra with Caesarion; Two Eagles on Ptolemaic Coins as Representations of Co-Regency
Peek, C. (2008). THE EXPULSION OF CLEOPATRA VII: CONTEXT, CAUSES, AND CHRONOLOGY. Ancient Society,38, 103-135.
GRAY-FOW, M. (2014). WHAT TO DO WITH CAESARION. Greece & Rome,61(1), second series, 38-67.
Image Source for Cleopatra VII bust: Cleopatra VII, Altes Museum, Antikensammlung Berlin, Public Domain image via Wikipedia