246 NGC Ch VF Alexandria Philip II Caesar Tetradrachm Serpent Biga (20090904C)

Description

Choice Very Fine Philip II b
illon silver Roman Egypt Alexandria tetradrachm coin, 12.29g.
Issued for Philip as Caesar during the reign of his father Emperor Philip I. Philip II was elevated as Co-Emperor during year 4.
Minted in the Emperor's 4th regnal year,
denoted by Greek letter Delta = 246/247 CE.
Obverse: Draped/Cuirassed bare head of Caesar facing right with full legends.
Reverse: Triptoleomos standing right in Serpent Biga (chariot), date letters L Delta above.
Emmett 3608/4, rated as R2.
Triptolemus was a demi-god of the Eleusinian mysteries who presided over the sowing of grain-seed and the milling of wheat. He was one of the Eleusinian princes who hospitably received the goddess Demeter when she was mourning the loss of her daughter.
The
Triptolemus/Serpent biga type was seldom used on Alexandrian coinage.
Pedigree: Ex. CNG catalog sale from the 1990s with their ticket.