weight 8,63gr. ; gold Ø 17mm.

obv. Quadriaga riding to left, in rapid motion, driven my male charioteer
with head in profile, wearing long chiton with girdle, holding the reins in
both hand. In exergue KYPANAION
rev. Zeus-Ammon, bearded, seated right on throne, holding lolus-headed
scepter in right hand, IAΣONOΣ to right

Kyrene was a city on the coast of North Africa founded by colonists from Thera. By the end of the sixth century BC, the city had developed into a thriving trading center, particularly due to the export of its native silphium plant. So important was this plant that it was the principal type on most of its coinage. This particular coin is from the period just after the death of Alexander the Great. At the time, Kyrene was under the control of Ptolemy I, through his governor Ophellas. Most of the civic gold coinage of Kyrene is from this period, and is struck on the Attic standard. Here, the obverse depicts a chariot scene that is influenced by similar designs on contemporary Sicilian coinage. The reason for this choice of design is uncertain, but the popularity of the Sicilian gold in trade may have been a contributing factor. The reverse depicts the god Zeus-Ammon, the principal deity at Kyrene, who had been portrayed on its coinage from the earliest times. In contrast to Kyrene′s earlier coinage, which was of unexceptional style, as well as other contemporary Hellenistic issues, these gold coins exhibit a refined style reminiscent of the high numismatic art of the Classical period.

These gold stater issues were meant as payment to the Macedonian forces to protect the semi-autonomous nature of Kyrene, center for the valuable silphium trade. This gold stater type of magistrate Jason is a real rarity. Naville listed only 5 specimens, of which 3 are in museums. These are all with the reverse legend IAΣON, in large letters. The specimen offered here has the magistrate′s name written in full in small letters; IAΣONOΣ. Seems to be unpublished in the relevant reference literature. Coin of the highest rarity.

BMC - (cf. 109) ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; Boston MFA - (cf. 1321) ;
Naville - (cf. 18) ; Jameson - ; Sear - (cf. 6286) ;
Babelon, Traité III, page 1071, no.1839var.   RRRR
vf+

weight 0,87gr. ; gold Ø 7mm.

obv. Head of the youthful Karneios to left, with a ram′s horn
over his ear, before head; [Θ]EV
rev. Female head (nymph Kyrene ?) right, hair rolled

Kyrene was a city on the coast of North Africa founded by colonists from Thera. By the end of the sixth century BC, the city had developed into a thriving trading center, particularly due to the export of its native silphium plant. So important was this plant that it was the principal type on most of its coinage. This particular coin is from the period just after the death of Alexander the Great. At the time, Kyrene was under the control of Ptolemy I, through his governor Ophellas. Most of the civic gold coinage of Kyrene is from this period, and is struck on the Attic standard. Here, the obverse depicts a chariot scene that is influenced by similar designs on contemporary Sicilian coinage. The reason for this choice of design is uncertain, but the popularity of the Sicilian gold in trade may have been a contributing factor. The reverse depicts the god Zeus-Ammon, the principal deity at Kyrene, who had been portrayed on its coinage from the earliest times. In contrast to Kyrene′s earlier coinage, which was of unexceptional style, as well as other contemporary Hellenistic issues, these gold coins exhibit a refined style reminiscent of the high numismatic art of the Classical period.

BMC Cyrenaica pg. 35, 145 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1201 ;
Naville 48 ; Sear 6294 R
Unusual nice for the type, with fine details. Rare.
xf-

weight 8,56gr. ; gold Ø 18mm.

obv. Nike, holding kentron in right hand, reins in both,
driving quadriga right, KYPANAION above
rev. Zeus-Ammon standing left, holding lolus-headed scepter
en phiale sacrificing over thymiaterion, ΠOΛIANΘEYS on right

This gold issue was payment to the Macedonian forces to protect the
semi-autonomous nature of Kyrene, center for the valuable silphium trade .

Kyrene was a city on the coast of North Africa founded by colonists from Thera. By the end of the sixth century BC, the city had developed into a thriving trading center, particularly due to the export of its native silphium plant. So important was this plant that it was the principal type on most of its coinage. This particular coin is from the period just after the death of Alexander the Great. At the time, Kyrene was under the control of Ptolemy I, through his governor Ophellas. Most of the civic gold coinage of Kyrene is from this period, and is struck on the Attic standard. Here, the obverse depicts a chariot scene that is influenced by similar designs on contemporary Sicilian coinage. The reason for this choice of design is uncertain, but the popularity of the Sicilian gold in trade may have been a contributing factor. The reverse depicts the god Zeus-Ammon, the principal deity at Kyrene, who had been portrayed on its coinage from the earliest times. In contrast to Kyrene′s earlier coinage, which was of unexceptional style, as well as other contemporary Hellenistic issues, these gold coins exhibit a refined style reminiscent of the high numismatic art of the Classical period.

BMC 120 ; Müller, Afrique 192 ; SNG.Copenhagen 1210 ; Warren 1346 ;
Naville 87 ; Jameson 1353 ; Boston MFA 1325 ; Sear 6301 RR
(cf. Nomos, auction 13, lot 254 about xf ; 40.000 + 18%)
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