Extinct plants- Now that is something you need for an ancient coin collection. I have searched for an extinct plant coin for nearly 3 years. I have nearly pulled the trigger on lesser examples available online in the usual places. I have even considered paying big money for one, well good thing..I didn't. I found this one in a privet collection of a collector I used to do business with online, who no longer sells online. he knew I was looking for one of these coins and being a seasoned collector of good taste he had one. Being a nice guy he gave this to me for wonderful deal. This coin was minted in Kyrene, Kyrencia North Africa around 300 BC. With wonderful old cabinet toning the coin appeals to me on several levels. The horned head of Karneios, a ram horned incarnation of Apollo, that captivates the harvest, fruits of the vine, agriculture as well as the metaphysical incarnation of harvest which includes death and the ultimate freedom of the soul. Then there is the reverse, the coveted and now Silphium plant, ironically cultivated to extinction by the ancients. The plant appears frequently on coins of of Kyrene and is said to have had fruits that were used both as an aphrodisiac and contraceptive, the last specimen was said to have been eaten by the Roman emperor Nero in around 68 AD. Africa Kyrencia, Kyrene AR Didrachm (Stater) s. 308-277 BC 19.4 mm x 7.62 grams Obverse: Karneios, horned head right. Reverse: Silphium plant, KY-PA in fields. Ref: SGCV 6319, BMC 52 Note: Rare, Nicely centered, VF
I don't know enough to talk but I do have two from Kyrene to show. The little bronze has three plants base to base. There are also coins showing just the heart shaped fruit.
Great acquisition Anoob. I've seen these before and been tempted, but never pulled the proverbial trigger. Also, very nice looking coin. Congrats.
Awesome new pick-up, Noober ... very cool Ummm, but I'm pretty sure that it was the Coin Princess that posted her Silphium plant coin and then listed all of its many uses, yes? => I'm glad to see that you're still buying-up a few coins (for a second there it seemed like you were liquifying all of your assets?)
This is the only one I have picked up in the last couple of months. Yea I had a a pretty big drought, but things turned around a bit. As they say, " coins are like a river sometimes its a drought and sometimes a deluge, nothing to be worried about." I have been jonesing for one of these for a while and now it sits happily in my collection. YAY.
what a cool coin AN! don't you have one of those TIF? i know someone post one with that plant on it recently, because i remember looking it up. on wikipedia, it was suggested this plant may be a relative (or maybe even the plant)... kind of looks like it. "giant tangier fennel"
Yes beautiful coin indeed...I've seen a couple examples on vcoins....one over 5000 dollars similar to yours in detail and another which I'm interested in for a little over 600 but I can't bring myself to pay that much for this coin now. Its sounds like you got a great deal noob. It's always nice to have great connections in friends and dealers.
