Watch List notes:

Kyrenaica. Kyrene. AR Drachm, ca. 500-480 BC. 3.30 gms. Two heart-shaped silphium fruits (seed pods) top ends facing side by side, two pellets between, rev. Heart-shaped silphium fruit (seed pod), pellet above, within incuse square. BMC 18, SNG Copenhagen 1165. Around 630 BC, the Greek island of Thera was beset by drought and overpopulation. Escaping the resultant famine, Theran settlers led by one Battus sailed south. On the north coast of Africa, near modern Benghazi, they built the city of Kyrene. Exploring the area’s coastal plain, the settlers found the silphium plant, a rare relative of celery and fennel. The plant was most prized for its pregnancy-preventing properties and was for centuries a popular contraceptive throughout the ancient world. For centuries, there was also a close association between the silphium plant and human love. As the silphium could only be cultivated on the small coastal region by Kyrene, it brought the city great wealth. Unfortunately, it was overharvested and the silphium became extinct. Until the late 20th century, the only known images of the silphium were those found on ancient silver and gold coins of Cyrene, but these were full view images of the plant. It wasn’t until the 1992 excavations of the Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone at Cyrene, that a few archaic era silver coins were discovered which depicted the silphium seed pod, the heart shape so well known today as the universal symbol of love. Excellent metal quality for issue. Near Extremely fine for type and Very Rare especially so nice.
Ex Tkalec, Nov. 2014, lot 94
Estimate: - $2,000.00