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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;kirispupis, post: 7993216, member: 118780&quot;]For my 45th coin in &quot;Philip II, Alexander III, and the Age of the Diadochi,&quot; I targeted Magas of Kyrene. He was an interesting person, having received governage from his stepfather Ptolemy I. His step-siblings were Arsinoe II and Ptolemy II. After the death of Ptolemy I, Magas asserted independence for Kyrene, and initially joined with Antiochos I in an attack on his stepbrother.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, what I find far more fascinating about this coin is not the person, but what&#039;s depicted. It&#039;s an ancient plant called Silphium, which most believe is now extinct.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1386687[/ATTACH] </p><p>Kyrene, Magas (Ptolemaic governor, c. 300-282/75 BC). AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.30g, 12h). Head of Karneios r. R/ Silphion plant; ZE monogram to upper l., crab to upper r., KY-PA across lower field. BMC 256; cf. SNG Copenhagen 1243.</p><p>Ex London Ancient Coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>Magas issued a wide coinage in gold, silver, and bronze. Given the history of silphium, though, I had to have a coin that depicted it. These silver didrachms can get pricy, so mine is worn - but the important parts are still clear.</p><p><br /></p><p>Easily the most valuable plant at the time, it transformed Kyrene from a backwater to one of the richest cities in the Mediterranean. The list of capabilities is impressive: a contraceptive and abortifacient. Cures a soar throat, fever, warts, and more. Used as a seasoning and perfume. When eaten by goats, it makes the meat incredibly tender.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I wonder today is whether silphium was just a &quot;craze&quot;, akin to the Dutch tulip madness, or whether it was truly a remarkable weed. Sadly, it went extinct during the time of the 12 Caesars, so we&#039;ll probably never know. Theories on its demise range from overgrazing to desertification to &quot;it&#039;s still around.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>So important was silphium to Kyrene&#039;s economy (it only grew there), that many of its coins feature the plant. This one displays the stalk, bloom(?) at the top, and a crab. My suspicion is the crabs had something important to do with the plant. Its seeds were supposedly shaped like hearts, and many believe the plant&#039;s association with fertility and use as a contraceptive gave our current heart shape its form.</p><p><br /></p><p>My suspicion is silphium as a species no longer exists. Given that it was traded as far as India (and maybe beyond?), had it grown somewhere else, someone back then would have noticed. What I do wonder, though, is would our world be a bit different were it still to exist? Could it have cured cancer? Was it actually an effective contraceptive? Would our top steaks today involve silphium? Or, was the whole thing blown out of proportion?</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your photos of coins of:</p><p>a) Extinct species of plants or animals OR</p><p>b) Kyrene[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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