Le monete di Cirene (ex "Quiz")

[apollonia]

Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 96, lot 1150, 06.10.2016

Greek Coins
Cyrenaica, Cyrene. Tetradrachm circa 390-380 BC, AR 13.47 g.
Description K–V/[P]–A/N/–AI/O–N (retrograde) Silphium plant with three pairs of leaves and seven umbels. Rev. [NIKIOΣ] Laureate, bearded and horned head of Zeus Ammon r. References BMC 79 and pl. X, 3-4 B (these reverse dies)
SNG Spencer Churchill 170 (this coin)
Gillet 1213 (this coin)
SNG Lockett 3469 (this reverse die)
Bendenoun, Splendeur et témoingnage, 110 (this coin) Condition
Very rare and among the finest tetradrachms of Cyrene in existence. An enchanting portrait of late Classical style, work of a very skilled engraver. A wonderful old cabinet tone, slightly off-centre on obverse, otherwise extremely fine. Provenance
Naville sale 4, 17 June 1922, Grand duc Alexandre Michailovitch, 988
Leu sale 45, 1988, 295
Tradart sale December 2014, 200 (illustrated on the front cover page)
The E. G. Spencer Churchill collection
The Charles Gillet collection
The silphium plant, which was perhaps a type of giant fennel, was both indigenous to and limited to Cyrenaica, and its by-products were the principal export of the entire region. Its uses were said to be numerous and varied: it served as feed for cattle; it was sought as a cure-all for many physical ailments, from alleviating toothache to treating epilepsy, and as a form of birth control; it was used as a spice; and it even served cosmetic purposes as a perfume. Because the plant resisted cultivation but was so important to the local economy, its harvesting appears to have been tightly regulated. Even so, by about the first century A.D. it had become extinct. As important as the silphium plant was to the people of Cyrenaica, it is no wonder that it became the badge used on the coinage of all of the region’s cities. The plant is usually depicted in full, as on the coin of Cyrene offered here, complete with leaves, flowers, and fruits (on the earliest issues only the fruit is shown). The reverse portrays a remarkable bust of Zeus Ammon, the region’s most important deity, which by the time this coin was struck in the early part of the fourth century B.C. had become a common feature of Cyrene’s coinage.

Base d’asta: 40.000 CHF. Valutazione: 50.000 CHF. Risultato: 45.000 CHF

apollonia

[King John]

Riprendo questa discussione per dare una notizia comunque collegata al suo oggetto: le monete di Cirene e la pianta su di esse sempre raffigurata, il silfio. Che sia stato ritrovato???

https://www.ilpost.it/2022/10/03/silfio-pianta-estinta-antica-roma/

Modificato 3 Ottobre, 2022 da King John

[coinzh]

sarebbe fantastico se non fosse estinto

[apollonia]

Tetradramma di Cirene con taglio di saggio al dritto.

Video

266. KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 480-435 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 14.45 g, 1 h), c. 460s. Silphium plant with two pairs of leaves and five umbels. Rev. KVRA Head of Zeus Ammon to right, with short hair and with ram’s horn over his ear; all within border of short rays within shallow circular incuse. BMC p. xxxvii, 43c, and pl. V, 20 = Jameson 1350 (this coin). Weber 8425. Extremely rare, and with a remarkably fine head of Zeus in early Classical style. The obverse surfaces corroded, test cut on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of R. Maly, LHS Numismatik 100, 23 April 2007, 351, ex Hess-Leu 15, 7 April 1960, 270, and from the collection of R. Jameson, ex J. Hirsch XVI, 6 December 1906, 705.

 

Ma c’è anche la possibilità di osservarlo rigirato tra le dita di un esperto al link

NOMOS 25 

Inserire 266 in Go to lot in basso a sinistra e cliccare sul triangolino dopo Video e poi sulla moneta.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Base d’asta: 11.200 CHF. Risultato: 16.000 CHF.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Elettrotipo di Cirene della CNG ELECTRONIC AUCTION 553, 3 gen 2024.

Base d’asta: 60 USD. Valutazione: 100 USD. Risultato: 250 USD.

Lotto 951. ELECTROTYPES, KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 435-331 BC (27mm, 15.02 g, 6h). British Museum electrotype ([MB] on reverse). Head of Zeus-Ammon facing slightly left within laurel wreath / Large silphion plant. Head, Guide, Period III.C.44; cf. GPCG pl. 20, 61 (for prototype). Toned. As made.
From the Cabinet of Dr. Arnold R. Saslow.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Tetradramma battuto alla Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 133, lot 151, 21.11.2022.

Greek Coins. Cyrenaica, Barce.
Tetradrachm, magistrate Akesios circa 360, AR 13.16 g. B – A / P – K / A – I Silphium plant. Rev. AKE – ΣIOΣ Facing head of Zeus Ammon, with his eyes wide-open and his hair flowing behind him on each side. BMC 32 and pl. 36, 8 (this obverse die) and p. clxxvii, 32 and pl. 47, 8 (this reverse die). Traité 270. Jameson 2137 (these dies). ACGC 1076. cf. NAC sale 116, 2019, 218 (this obverse die).
Very rare. An interesting and appealing type with an impressive and unusual facing portrait. Perfectly centred on a large flan and with a pleasant old cabinet tone.
Good very fine
Ex SKA 1, 1983, 167 and New York XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 629 sales. Privately purchased from Spink on 20th February1984.
Estimate: 25 000 CHF. Price realized: 55 000 CHF.

I tipi di questo tetradramma celebrano le due esportazioni più famose della Cirenaica: il culto di Zeus Ammone e la pianta del silphium. Si pensa che quest'ultima fosse una varietà estinta di finocchio gigante e che fosse usata nell'antichità per condire gli alimenti e per la medicina. Il silphium cresceva solo in una stretta fascia costiera della Cirenaica e veniva usato come cura per una serie di disturbi, tra cui tosse, mal di gola, febbre, indigestione, dolori generali e persino pazzia. Tuttavia, è stato suggerito che la pianta fosse più desiderata per il suo uso come contraccettivo. L'eccessiva raccolta e la domanda eccessiva portarono all'estinzione della pianta nel I secolo d. C.: l'ultimo stelo di silphium sarebbe stato inviato a Nerone (54-68 d. C.). Zeus Ammon aveva un importante santuario oracolare nell'oasi di Siwah, che fu portato in auge quando Alessandro Magno vi fece visita e fu acclamato come figlio del dio. Zeus Ammon era essenzialmente una divinità nativa della Libia, sincretizzata con il dio egizio della fertilità Amon e con lo Zeus greco. Si distingue regolarmente dalle altre forme di Zeus per le sue corna di ariete, una caratteristica presa in prestito dall'iconografia dell'egiziano Amon. La raffigurazione di Zeus Ammon sul tetradramma in esame è brillante nella sua esecuzione e meravigliosamente conservata. I profondi occhi fissi di Zeus Ammone sembrano invitare lo spettatore ad avvicinarsi e a porre una domanda a cui il dio oracolare possa rispondere.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Esemplare in miglior grado di conservazione del precedente battuto alla Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG, Auction 116, lt 218, 01.10.2019.

Greek Coins
Cyrenaica, Barce
Tetradrachm, magistrate Akesios circa 360, AR 12.64 g. B – A / P – K / A – I Silphium plant. Rev. AKE – ΣIOΣ Facing head of Zeus Ammon, with his eyes wide-open and his hair flowing behind him on each side. BMC 32 and pl. 36, 8 (this obverse die) and p. clxxvii, 32 and pl. 47, 8 (this reverse die). Traité 270. Jameson 2137. ACGC 1076. cf. New York sale XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 629 (this obverse die).
Very rare and possibly the finest coin of Cyrenaica in existence. A portrait of enchanting
beauty, the work of a very talented master engraver, perfectly struck and centred on a full
flan. Lovely old cabinet tone. Weakly struck on obverse, otherwise extremely fine
Ex Leu 22, 1979, 180 (illustrated on the cover page) and DNW A11, 2011, 2017 sales.
Estimate: 250 000 CHF. Price realized: 290 000 CHF.

The types of this tetradrachm celebrate the two most famous exports of Cyrenaica: the cult of Zeus Ammon and the silphium plant. The latter is thought to have been an extinct variety of giant fennel and was used in antiquity for seasoning and medicine. Silphium grew only on a narrow coastal strip of the Cyrenaica and was used as a cure for a variety of ailments including cough, sore throat, fever, indigestion, general aches and pains, and even insanity. However, it has been suggested that the plant may have been most desired for its use as a contraceptive. Overharvesting and excessive demand led to the extinction of the plant in the first century AD-the last stalk of silphium was reportedly sent to Nero (AD 54-68). Zeus Ammon had an important oracular shrine at the Oasis of Siwah that was catapulted to fame when Alexander the Great made a visit and was hailed as son of the god. Zeus Ammon was essentially a native Libyan deity syncretized with both the Egyptian fertility god Amun and Greek Zeus. He is regularly distinguished from other forms of Zeus by his ram's horns-a feature borrowed from the iconography of Egyptian Amun. The facing depiction of Zeus Ammon on the present tetradrachm is brilliant in its execution and wonderfully preserved. The deep staring eyes of Zeus Ammon seem to beckon the viewer to come closer and ask a question for the oracular god to answer.

apollonia

[apollonia]

NAC, AUCTION 140, LOTTO 191

Base d’asta: 28'000 CHF. Valutazione: 35'000 CHF. Risultato: 70'000 CHF.

Lotto 191. Tetradrachm circa 400, AR 23 mm, 13.16 g. Head of Zeus Ammon, facing three-quarters r., wearing a laurel-wreath and a ram’s horn. Rev. K – [Y] / P – [A] / N – [A] Silphium plant. BMC p. xlix, 77b, pl. IX, 10 (this coin) = NC 1915, p. 99, 48. Gillet 1211 (this coin). Jameson 2528 (these dies). Of the highest rarity, two specimens known of which this is the only one in private hands. A very interesting and innovative portrait of masterly Classical style, the work of a very skilled master engraver. Wonderful old cabinet tone, obverse from a worn die, otherwise about extremely fine / good very fine

Ex Leu 28, 1981, 226 and New York XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 634 sales. From the W. Giesecke and Charles Gillet collections.

Cyrene was founded in North Africa by Greek colonists from Thera in 631 BC. These were driven to leave their original island home by a famine that had gripped Thera for seven years and the advice of the Delphic Oracle, which promised that their fortunes would improve if they founded a city in Libya. The colonists were led by a certain Battus and made an initial attempt to settle on the island of Platea off the coast of Libya, but after two years and further direction from Delphi, they moved to the mainland and settled at Aziris. After six more years at this settlement, the native Libyans showed Battus a site further inland that was thought to be more suitable for Greek agriculture as it was said to be located beneath a “hole in the sky.” This peculiar remark recorded by Herodotus is thought to refer to greater rainfall in the region than elsewhere in Libya. The new site proved to be surrounded by rich farmland and was settled as the city of Cyrene. Battus became the first in a line of Cyrenean kings that survived until the mid-fifth century BC, when the city adopted a republican constitution.Cyrene grew wealthy from involvement in the Mediterranean grain exprt trade and trade with neighboring Egypt. Riches also accrued to the city through its export of silphium (possibly an extinct giant fennel), a plant widely used in antiquity for seasoning and medicinal purposes. Silphium, which grew only on a narrow coastal strip of the Cyrenaica was supposed to be a good cure for a cough, sore throat, fever, indigestion, general aches and pains, and even madness. However, it has been suggested that the plant may have been most desired for its use as a contraceptive. Excessive demand, overharvesting, and the encroachment of grazing animals appears to have resulted in the extinction of silphium in the first century AD. Pliny the Elder claims that the last known stalk of silphium was sent to Nero (AD 54-68) as a curiosity. The rarity and value of silphium, together with its uniqueness to Cyrene made it a popular emblem for the city’s coins as early as the sixth century BC.In addition to silphium, Cyrene was famous for its connection to the oracular shrine of Zeus Ammon at the Oasis of Siwah. This god was really a local Libyan deity identified with the important Egyptian fertility god Amun, whom the Greeks in turn re-imagined as a form of Zeus. He is easily distinguished from other depictions of the supreme Greek god by the addition of ram’s horns. This attribute was carried over from Egyptian Amun, who was regularly associated with the ram as a symbol of fecundity. The oracular responses of Zeus Ammon were much desired and were sought out by a number of ancient rulers, most notably the Lydian king, Croesus (560-546 BC) and Alexander the Great (336-323 BC). Croesus reportedly consulted the oracle in order to decide whether he should go to war against the Persians, while Alexander visited in person in 331 BC. It is unknown what the Macedonian conqueror asked, but after he was greeted as “son of Amun” in accord with his status as Pharaoh of Egypt, he began to style himself as a son of Zeus among his Macedonian and Greek troops.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Emistatere o dramma di Cirene, primo regno del governatore tolemaico Ophellas, con il simbolo della cicala ai piedi della pianta di silfio al rovescio (CNG Auction 100).

KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Ophellas. Ptolemaic governor, first reign, circa 322-313 BC. AV Drachm (15mm, 4.28 g, 11h). Chairios, magistrate. Horseman, petasos hanging from neck, riding right; XAIPIOΣ above / Silphion plant; K-Y/P-A in two lines across field, cicada to lower left. Naville 106; SNG Copenhagen –; BMC 131; Boston MFA 1328; McClean 9943; Pozzi 3275; Weber 8438 (all from the same dies). VF, light deposits and a few tiny marks on reverse. Rare.
From the collection of Dr. Lawrence A. Adams. Ex Goldberg 26 (6 September 2004), lot 2140.

Estimate: 3000 USD. Price realized: 2750 USD.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Gorny & Mosch AUKTION 302

Base d’asta: 2'400 EUR

Valutazione: 3'000 EUR

Risultato: 6'000 EUR

Lotto 304. KYRENAIKA. KYRENE.  
AV-Tetrobol ø 13mm (2,83g). ca. 305 - 300 v. Chr. Vs.: Reiter n. l., auf dem Rücken Kausia, dahinter achtstrahliger Stern. Rs.: ΚΥΡΑ, Silphionpflanze, r. im Feld Monogramm des Magistraten Sosis. Naville 160 ff.; BMC 211 (Vs. stgl.); SNG Cop. 1232 (Vs. stgl.); Boston MFA 1340 (Vs. stgl.).
Gold! Scharf ausgeprägt, vz

Die wichtigste Grundlage für Kyrenes wirtschaftliche Prosperität war die Silphionpflanze, die nur in der Kyrenaika wuchs und sich anderswo nicht kultivieren ließ. Der aus ihr gewonnene Lasersaft war als Arzneimittel so begehrt, dass er mit Silber aufgewogen wurde. Im 1. Jh. n. Chr. war der Silphion größtenteils ausgerottet - laut Plinius n. h. 19, 39 wurde der letzte noch auffindbare Stengel Kaiser Nero zum Geschenk gemacht.

• befindet sich in der Vorübergehenden Verwendung.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Leu AUCTION 15, LOTTO 166, 1 giu 2024

Base d’asta: 16'000 CHF. Valutazione: 20'000 CHF.

Lotto 166. KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 450-435 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 17.18 g, 12 h), Attic standard. Alliance issue with Euhesperides. M-E / [E]-Y Silphion plant with two pairs of leaves and fruits. Rev. KYPA Head of Zeus-Ammon to right, with large ram's horn over his ear and slightly curled beard; all within pelleted circle within shallow circular incuse. BMFA -. BMC p. xlii, 60e and pl. VII, 19 (same dies). SNG Copenhagen -. Extremely rare and undoubtedly the finest known example. A spectacular piece boldly struck from fresh dies, with luster in the fields and an exceptionally detailed rendering of the famous Silphion plant and a magnificent head of Zeus Ammon. The obverse struck slightly off center and with a small scrape on the reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.


From a European collection, formed before 2005.

Kyrene and its neighboring cities gained their fabulous wealth not least from the export of the silphium plant, which grew wild in the Kyrenaika and was used both for medical purposes and eaten as a vegetable. Growing demand and the over-cultivation of the hinterland eventually led to the extinction of the wild plant, whose appearance we only know from coins, by the 1st century AD. The present issue was struck in alliance with Euhesperides, the most western city of the Kyrenaikan Pentapolis, which appears to have joined forces with Kyrene against the interjacent city of Barke in the turmoil following the downfall of the Battiadae in 440 BC, the Royal dynasty which had ruled Kyrene since the late 7th century BC.

Interestingly, there are further alliance coinages between Barke and Kyrene, as well as Barke and Teuchira, indicating a close network of diplomatic ties among these four cities. This by no means suggests that the relationships must always have been peaceful, as the alliance coinages could also commemorate peace treaties. If Robinson's interpretation (BMC p. xlv-xlvi) is correct that the Zeus-Ammon reverses identify the issuing city, as one would expect, it is notable that the alliance coinages between Kyrene and Barke were issued by the latter, thus showing Kyrene, otherwise dominant, in a junior position. Whether this indicates a lost war remains unclear, but Barke's power seems to have peaked during this period.

apollonia

[mazzarello silvio]

Ciao

@apollonia il 4 di Luglio è il mio compleanno se vuoi farmi un regalino è ben accetto🤣. Io mi accontento della mia.

Silvio

[apollonia]

Didramma con la testa di Testa di Apollo Carneo a sinistra.

SNG Copenhagen 1238 se non sbaglio.

Bel pezzo.

Ciao,

apollonia

[apollonia]

Segnalo la notevole performance di un esemplare del didramma citato sopra nella Künker 402 nel marzo di quest’anno dove ha raggiunto un hammer di 3400 EUR dalla base di partenza di 400 EUR.

Lot number: 762. Lot description:
GRIECHISCHE MÜNZEN. CYRENAICA. KYRENE.
AR-Didrachme, 308/277 v. Chr.; 7,80 g. Karneioskopf l.//Silphium, l. Monogramm, r. Stern. BMC 238; SNG Cop. 1238. Kl. Kratzer, sehr schön.

Erworben 2001 bei der Firma Blancon, Hannover.
Zur Zeit der Prägung dieses Stückes war Magas, ein Halbbruder des Ptolemaios I., Gouverneur von Kyrene. Der Silphiumhandel machte Kyrene reich - in Rom wurde Silphium mit Silber aufgewogen. Die Pflanze galt lange als ausgestorben, sie soll jedoch in Libyen wiederentdeckt worden sein. Siphium wurde sowohl als Gewürz als auch als Heilmittel verwendet. Über die Verwendung als Gewürz berichtet uns der Meisterkoch Apicius in seinem Werk "De re coquinaria". Das gegenüber dem kyrenäischen minderwertigere parthische Silphium (Ferula asafoetida) wird heute noch in der indischen Küche eingesetzt (unter der Bezeichnung "Hing", besonders bei Gerichten mit Hülsenfrüchten) - es hat einen intensiven, knoblauchartigen Geschmack. Der hohe Preis des Silphiums erklärt sich aber wohl hauptsächlich durch seine Verwendung als Verhütungsmittel (siehe Riddle, Coins and Contraceptives: The Plant that made Kyrene Famous, in: The Celator Vol. 17, 12 (2003), S. 34 f.). Eine pikante Anspielung darauf findet sich bei Catull (Carmina 7):
"Sagen soll ich, wie viele deiner Küsse, Liebste Lesbia, mir genug sind und zuviel sind? - So viel Körner Sandes die Libysche Wüste In dem Silphiumtragenden Cyrene Zwischen Ammons Orakel und des alten Battus hochgeheiligtem Grabmal aufweist, (...).

Estimate: 400 EUR. Price realized: 3,400 EUR.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Nomos

https://nomosag.com/nomos-32/524

Lot 524 : Estimate: 15000 CHF, Hammer Price:  50000 CHF

KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 308-277 BC. Drachm (Gold, 7 mm, 3.44 g, 2 h). Head of Zeus Ammon facing, turned very slightly to his left - our right - with curly hair and a neat beard. Rev. [KYP]AIN Silphium plant with four leaves (two on each side), and five flowers (one at the top and one above each pair of leaves). Apparently unpublished. Seemingly unique. With an astoundingly finely made head of Zeus - he is presumably Zeus Ammon, but no horn is visible. Scrapes on the reverse and various marks , otherwise, nearly extremely fine/very fine.

From the Battos Collection.

The wonderful facing portrait on this coin probably depicts Zeus Ammon, the Greek form of the Egyptian god Amun. Originally, the patron deity of Egyptian Thebes, Amun gained the status of a national Egyptian god in the 16th century BC and his worship spread to Libya and Nubia. After the foundation of Kyrene in 631 BC, the Greeks were exposed to the cult of Amun through his shrine at Siwah, near the edge of the Libyan desert. In typical Greek fashion, they reimagined Amun--an Egyptian king of the gods--as Zeus, who played the same role in the Olympian pantheon. However, to visually distinguish Zeus Ammon from the more mundane Hellenic Zeus, he was most commonly depicted with the horns of a ram, although it is not clear that they are present here. Zeus Ammon went on to be the divine patron of Kyrene and through the Kyreneans his worship was exported to the wider Greek world.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Nomos

https://nomosag.com/nomos-33/1484

Lot 1484. Estimate: 8500 CHF, Hammer Price:  20000 CHF.

KYRENAIKA. Kyrene. Circa mid-5th century BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 15.85 g, 11 h). Silphium plant with four leaves (two on each side), and five flowers (one at the top and one above each pair of leaves). Rev. Κ - V/Ρ - Α Bearded head of Zeus Ammon to right, his hair carefully arranged and with a ram's horn around his ear; border of dots. BMC p. xxxvi, 41a and pl. 5, 13 = Jameson 1349 = Schefold, MW, 464 = Traité II, 3, 1805 and pl. CCLXIII, 4 (this coin). Extremely rare. A coin of fine early Classical style, with a noble head of Zeus Ammon that stands as a true north African parallel to the great head of Dionysos from Naxos. Sharply-struck and well-centered. Ancient test cut o the reverse with a corresponding cut on the obverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From the Collection of Jonathan H. Kagan, ex M & M Numismatics I, 7 December 1997, 151, and from the collections of R. Käppeli and R. Jameson.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Nomos

https://nomosag.com/nomos-33/1485

Lot 1485. Estimate: 6500 CHF, Hammer Price: 110000 CHF.

KYRENAIKA. Kyrene. Circa 410 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 12.94 g, 6 h). ΑΡΙΣ-ΤΟ-Μ-Η-ΔΕ-ΟΣ Silphium plant with four leaves (two on each side), and four flowers (a large one at the top and three smaller ones above the lower register of leaves); on the right, standing on its hind legs and propping its forelegs on the silphium, is a gazelle, raising its head - with a long ear and a stubby horn - to nibble on a silphium leaf. Rev. Bearded head of Zeus-Ammon to left, with carefully arranged hair, a ram's horn curled around his ear, and with a few tendrils of hair falling down his neck. Cf. BMC pl. XI, 11 (for the obverse) and pl. XII, 1 and 4 (for the reverse). (U. Wartenberg and J.H.Kagan, Silphium, Jerboas, Genets, and the Coinage of Cyrene, in Le Monete di Cirene e della Cirenaica nel Mediterraneo. Problemi e prospettive. Atti del V Congresso Internazionale di Numismatica e di Storia Monetaria, Padova, 17–19 Marzo 2016, ed. M. Asolati, Padova, 2016, pp. 43-56, especially pp. 50-51, 3 and p. 53, fig. 3 (this coin). An extremely rare type, with a particularly naturalistic obverse and a noble head of Zeus-Ammon on the reverse, masterfully engraved. Die flaw on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the Collections of Jonathan H. Kagan, and N. B. Hunt, IV, Sotheby’s 19-20 June 1991, 521.

 

Questa moneta è straordinaria sotto tutti i punti di vista. La testa di Zeus-Ammone è di uno stile classico raffinato ma potente, che ricorda il Dioniso delle emissioni contemporanee di Taso e le teste più raffinate che saranno presto prodotte a Olimpia. Tuttavia, è il dritto a catturare l'attenzione. Si tratta di una scena straordinariamente vivace di un animale che bruca una foglia di silfio, sicuramente tratta dalla natura. Quindi, a differenza della maggior parte delle monete antiche che sono probabilmente tratte dalla scultura, sia a tutto tondo che in rilievo, questa tipologia sembra essere basata su un dipinto o un disegno. È abbastanza chiaro, con l'unico problema dell'identificazione dell'animale sul dritto. Robinson, BMC p, li, descrizione di 92a, lo definisce una gazzella. Al contrario, W & K, nel loro magistrale articolo citato sopra, ritenevano che l'animale fosse una genetta (in realtà, "The Common Genet" Genetta genetta (Linnaeus), il cui habitat è il Nord Africa - anche se non in gran parte della Libia, almeno in tempi moderni), che è una creatura simile a un gatto con un collo pronunciato, una lunga coda e grandi orecchie. Hanno anche sottolineato che le gazzelle hanno le corna, di cui non hanno visto traccia su questa moneta.

Tuttavia, da quello che possiamo vedere su questa moneta e sul pezzo di Karlsruhe, BMC pl. XI, 10, questa creatura: ha 1) zampe posteriori lunghe e tozze, che le genette non hanno; ha 2) una coda apparentemente corta e sottile, a differenza di quelle folte e cespugliose che hanno le genette; ha 3) zampe posteriori che terminano con zoccoli anziché con le zampe che hanno le genette; e ha, ben visibile su questo pezzo, a sinistra dell'orecchio, 4) un corno corto, che è raffigurato da una breve linea verticale che termina in un pomello (c'è uno spazio chiaro tra l'estremità del pomello e il bordo della moneta; cioè, Le genette non hanno corna, quindi la vecchia identificazione dell'animale su questa moneta come gazzella sembra certa. Inoltre, mentre alcuni hanno suggerito che il silphium fosse una pianta così piccola che le gazzelle non avrebbero dovuto alzarsi per mangiarla - mentre le genette avrebbero potuto farlo (supponendo che, in quanto carnivore, fossero ghiotte di foglie di silphium), in realtà sappiamo, da una serie di rappresentazioni sulle monete (come BMC 11-12 e pl. II, 20-21, BMC 12a-12b e pl. III, 1-2), che le piante di silfio potevano essere piuttosto alte: quelle illustrate raggiungono l'altezza della testa di una dea seduta. In un altro caso, una gazzella in piedi si nutre di foglie alla sommità di un silphium (BMC 15a e pl. III, 6).

apollonia

[apollonia]

Nomos

https://nomosag.com/nomos-33/1487

Lot 1487. Estimate: 4000 CHF, Hammer Price: 9000 CHF.

KYRENAIKA. Kyrene. Ophellas, Ptolemaic governor, first reign, circa 322-313 BC. Drachm (Gold, 15 mm, 4.31 g, 12 h). K-Y/P-A/NΑΙ-A-I/O-N Horseman riding a horse prancing to right, holding the reins with his right hand. Rev. Silphium plant; to lower left, jerboa standing to left. BMC 124 (same dies). Naville 108 (same dies). Traité II, 3, 1850. U. Wartenberg and J.H.Kagan, Silphium, Jerboas, Genets, and the Coinage of Cyrene, in Le Monete di Cirene e della Cirenaica nel Mediterraneo. Problemi e prospettive. Atti del V Congresso Internazionale di Numismatica e di Storia Monetaria, Padova, 17–19 Marzo 2016, ed. M. Asolati, Padova, 2016, p. 53, 6 (this coin, but mistakenly described as being ANS 1980.109.107). Extremely rare, attractive and lightly toned. Minor marks, otherwise, very fine.

From the Collection of Jonathan H. Kagan.

An interesting detail on the obverse of this coin is the curious engraver's error in the legend. It starts off with single letters: Κ - Υ - Ρ - Α and then, was the engraver daydreaming?, makes a monogram of ΝΑΙ. Then he realises what he is doing, hopes that the monogram will be ignored (!) and completes the legend. Α - Ι - Ο - Ν!

apollonia

[Oppiano]

Lot 40047 Stack's Bowers & Ponterio
August 2024 Global Showcase Auction  12-17 Aug 2024

https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1B9XWH/kyrenaika-kyrene-time-of-ophellas-first-reign-as-ptolemaic-governor-ca-322-313-bc-av-stater-859-gms-ngc-ch-vf-strike-55-su

KYRENAIKA. Kyrene. Time of Ophellas, first reign as Ptolemaic governor, ca. 322-313 B.C. AV Stater (8.59 gms). NGC Ch VF, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5.
SNG Cop-1210; Boston MFA-1325. Polianthes, magistrate. Obverse: Nike, holding kentron and reins, driving quadriga right; Reverse: Zeus Ammon standing facing slightly left, holding phiale and lotus-tipped scepter; thymiaterion to left, ΠΟΛΙΑΝΘΕΥΣ to right. A RARE and desirable type, this example features a good deal of remaining brilliance and only a moderate degree of wear across the high points.

Estimate: $3000 - $5000

Starting price: 1,800 USD

Sold: 6,900 USD

[apollonia]

Gorny & Mosch Auction 306

Lot 338

KYRENE. Tetradrachme ø 26mm (16.78g). 480 - 435 v. Chr. Vs.: Silphionpflanze. Rs.: Kopf des bärtigen Zeus Ammon mit Widderhörnern n. r., davor KYPA, das Ganze in Perlkreis. BMC 42 (Taf. V, 16 stgl.); Boston 1310; Babelon Traite III, Taf. 263, 5. R! Wundervoller, ästhetischer Stil!

Ex The New York Sale XXX, 2013, Los 243 (Taxe 25.000,- $).

Die wichtigste Grundlage für Kyrenes wirtschaftliche Prosperität war die Silphionpflanze, die nur in der Kyrenaika wuchs und sich anderswo nicht kultivieren ließ. Der aus ihr gewonnene Lasersaft war als Arzneimittel so begehrt, dass er mit Silber aufgewogen wurde. Im 1. Jh. n. Chr. war der Silphion größtenteils ausgerottet - laut Plinius n. h. 19, 39 wurde der letzte noch auffindbare Stengel Kaiser Nero zum Geschenk gemacht.

Condition:  Herrliche Sammlungstönung, Rs. kleiner Schrötlingsfehler an der Schläfe, ss

Starting price 6.000 €, Estim. Price7.500 €

apollonia

[apollonia]

Stessa asta

Lot 339. Estimate: 600 EUR
KYRENAIKA. KYRENE
Didrachme ø 21mm (7,61g). 294 - 275 v. Chr. Vs.: Kopf des Zeus Karneios n. l. Rs.: ΚΥ-ΡΑ, Silphionpflanze, l. oben Monogramm. SNG Cop. ; BMC 246247 var. (Monogramm rechts).
ss
Ex Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 536, 2023, Los 231.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Stessa asta

Lot 341. Estimate: 3000 EUR

KYRENAIKA. KYRENE
Drachme ø 17mm (3,34g). 480 - 435 v. Chr. Vs.: Silphionpflanze. Rs.: K-V-P-A (K u. P retr.), Kopf des Zeus Ammon n. l. im Perlkreis u. Quadratum incusum. Traité 1820 mit Taf. CCLXIII, 18; Müller 118; SNG Cop. 1177 var. (Kopf n. r.).
RR! Äußerst seltene Variante mit Götterkopf nach links! ss

Ex Apollo to Apollo Collection; ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachf. Auktion 267, München 2010, Los 378.
Publiziert in: H. B. Andersen, Apollo to Apollo - The Hunt for the Divine and Eternal Beauty (2019).

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[apollonia]

Stessa asta

Lot 342. Estimate: 1000 EUR

KYRENAIKA. KYRENE
Hemidrachme ø 10mm (1,70g). 490 - 475 v. Chr. Vs.: Silphionfrucht. Rs.: Kopf des Zeus Ammon in Quadratum incusum n. r. Buttrey, Periode I, Gruppe 2, 83; Traité 2022; BMC 2627; SNG Cop. 1169; Rosen 763; Müller 28.
RR! ss

Ex Apollo to Apollo Collection; ex CGB Mail Bid Sale 59, Paris 2013, Los 139; ex Slg. Thierry de Craeker; ex Slg. Michel Becuwe, erworben 1975.
Vgl. Classical Numismatic Group Triton XXII, 2019, Los 431.

 

apollonia

[apollonia]

Dalla prossima Leu Numismatik AG Auction 16  19 Oct 2024.

Lot 108. Estimate: 2500 CHF. Minimum bid: 2000 CHF.

KYRENAICA. Euhesperides. Circa 480-435 BC. Drachm (Silver, 15 mm, 3.20 g, 6 h), Asiatic standard. Silphion plant with leaves and fruits; pellet to lower left and right. Rev. EY Dolphin jumping downward to left; to right, foreleg of a hoofed animal to left; all within incuse square. BMC -, cf. p. CLXXXIX, 1a (dolphin right) = Boston MFA 1347. SNG Copenhagen -. Apparently unpublished. A beautiful example of this exceedingly rare earliest coinage from Euhesperides. Minor marks and very light deposits, otherwise, very fine.

From a Swiss collection, formed before 2005.

Euhesperides was the westernmost settlement of the Kyrenaikan Pentapolis. Little is known about its history before its reestablishment as Berenike by the Ptolemies in the 3rd century BC, and numismatic evidence is notably rarer compared to the more influential neighbors such as Barke and Kyrene. Our coin with its lovely depiction of a dolphin on the reverse highlights the significance of the sea for the city. Even today, the port of Benghazi, the modern metropolis situated on the site of the ancient city, remains the most important port in Kyrenaika.

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