Bronze Coin - AE Tetrobol, Ancient Ptolemaic Egypt, Minted c. 221-204 BC
Ruler:Ptolemy IV Philopator
Obv: Zeus Ammon head, rt
Rev: Eagle standing left, looking back, w/ cornucopia
39mm, 40.83gm
Cf Sear G-7843
Ptolemy IV Philopator, son of Ptolemy III and Berenice II of Egypt, was the fourth Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt. The decline of the Ptolemaic dynasty began under the reign of Ptolemy IV.
Ptolemy IV's reign was inaugurated by the murder of his mother, and he was always under the dominion of favourites, male and female, who indulged his vices and conducted the government as they pleased. Self-interest led his ministers to make serious preparations to meet the attacks of Antiochus III the Great on Coele-Syria including Judea, and Ptolemy himself was present at the great Egyptian victory of Raphia (217 BC) which secured the northern borders of the kingdom for the remainder of his reign.
