KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Magas. Circa 294-275 BC. AR Didrachm (20.5mm, 7.62 g, 12h). VF.

Electronic Auction 538
Lot: 289. Estimated: $ 500

Greek, 12h, Silver

Sold For $ 1 100. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Magas. Circa 294-275 BC. AR Didrachm (20.5mm, 7.62 g, 12h). Head of Zeus Karneios left / Silphion plant; to upper left, coiled serpent left; monogram to upper right. BMC 243–5; SNG Copenhagen 1239. A few light marks. VF.

The Silphion plant is engraved in a variety of ways on the various dies of this series. Unusually, as on this reverse, the branches leave the trunk one atop the other. There appear to be only two reverse dies of this style. Both are paired with various obverses with both head right and head left.

It would seem the master engravers cut the obverse dies while leaving the reverse dies to their junior apprentices who probably worked from a master design for the reverse die - which their talent rarely matched. Potential master reverse dies could be as seen on BMC 237 or perhaps BMC 259.


Closing Date and Time: 10 May 2023 at 11:36:00 ET.

All winning bids are subject to an 20% buyer’s fee.