---
title: Gold Octadrachm of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II
author: The British Museum
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/8210/gold-octadrachm-of-ptolemy-ii--arsinoe-ii/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2023-05-02
---
# Gold Octadrachm of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II
_Authored by The British Museum_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/8210.jpg)
## Image Caption
This massive [gold](https://www.worldhistory.org/gold/) [coin](https://www.worldhistory.org/coinage/) weighing approximately 27.7-8 grams was known as an octadrachm (equivalent in worth to 8 drachmae). Under the Ptolemies, mints in [cities](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) like [Alexandria](https://www.worldhistory.org/alexandria/) and Ptolemais produced ever larger denominations in gold, [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/), and [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/). This coin was minted in Alexandria, [Egypt](https://www.worldhistory.org/egypt/) between 260-40 BCE. On its obverse, it bears the diademed heads of [Ptolemy II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_II_Philadelphus/) and [Arsinoe II](https://www.worldhistory.org/Arsinoe_II_Philadelphus/) with the legend "Adelphon" (literally [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) for "Siblings"). On the reverse, [Ptolemy I](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemy_I/) and [Berenice](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Berenice/) I are depicted.
British Museum, London.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Museum, T. B. (2018, February 27). Gold Octadrachm of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Museum, The British. "Gold Octadrachm of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II." *World History Encyclopedia*, February 27, 2018. .
### MLA
Museum, The British. "Gold Octadrachm of Ptolemy II & Arsinoe II." *World History Encyclopedia*, 27 Feb 2018, .
## License & Copyright
© Trustees of the [British Museum](http://www.britishmuseum.org/). Republished under the British Museum [Standard Terms of Use](http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_this_site/terms_of_use.aspx) for non-profit educational purposes. [Original image](http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1272719&partId=1&searchText=ptolemy+ii&page=1) by [**The British Museum**](http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1272719&partId=1&searchText=ptolemy+ii&page=1). Submitted by [Arienne King](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/ava.spartan.117/ "User Page: Arienne King"), published on 27 February 2018. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.