Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246-222 BC, Triobol/Hemidrachm

Ptolemy III Euergetes, AE drachm, bronze, 246–222 BC, 34.6 g, 38 mm. Alexandria mint. Obverse: Head of Zeus-Ammon right, with ram’s horn. Reverse: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; legend ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΙΟΥ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ. Struck at Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy III as part of the large-module bronze fiduciary coinage. Ref: Svoronos 1128.

Ptolemy III extended Ptolemaic control during the Third Syrian War and administered a closed monetary system in Egypt that relied heavily on large bronze denominations for local transactions, with silver reserved for external payments. The Zeus-Ammon portrait expressed the dynasty’s syncretic ideology linking the ruler to both Egyptian Amun and Greek Zeus, while the eagle on thunderbolt functioned as the Ptolemaic badge of royal authority centered on Alexandria.