Le monete di Cirene (ex "Quiz")

[apollonia]

Dalla stessa asta

Lot 109. Estimate: 2500 CHF. Minimum bid: 2000 CHF.

KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 500-480 BC. Drachm (Silver, 12 mm, 3.59 g), Asiatic standard. Two silphion fruits set base-to-base; between them, pellet; to left and right, leaves. Rev. Facing head of a lion; all within incuse square. BMC p. XXVII, 38a and pl. V, 5. SNG Copenhagen 1172. Very rare and in exceptional condition for this difficult issue. Beautifully centered and of wonderful late Archaic style. Somewhat porous, otherwise, very fine.

From a Swiss collection, formed before 2005.

The cities of Kyrenaica were known for frequently drawing inspiration for their coinage from the artistic traditions of Magna Graecia, the Greek mainland, or Asia Minor. This beautiful drachm from Kyrene features a splendid rendering of two silphion fruits on the obverse, while the reverse displays a facing lion's head. The coin thus combines a local motif on the obverse with a reverse design inspired by foreign coinage, perhaps from Samos or Rhegion.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Dalla stessa asta

Lot 110. Estimate: 5000 CHF. Minimum bid: 4000 CHF.

KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 480-440 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 17.39 g, 7 h), Attic standard. Silphion plant with two pair of leaves and fruits. Rev. KYPA Bearded head of Zeus Ammon to right, with ram's horn over his ear; all within pelleted circle within shallow circular incuse. BMC 43 and pl. V, 17 (same dies). Boston MFA 1310. SNG Copenhagen -. Traité III 1807. Very rare and with a bold and impressive Phidian-style Zeus Ammon. The obverse struck somewhat off center and with a few light scratches on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.

This and the following lot number 111 were struck from the same die pair. It is indeed a remarkable coincidence that two very rare tetradrachms from Kyrene, minted almost simultaneously two and a half millennia ago, have come together again in this catalogue.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Dalla stessa asta

Lot 111. Estimate: 3500 CHF. Minimum bid: 2800 CHF.

KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 480-440 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 16.72 g, 2 h), Attic standard. Silphion plant with two pair of leaves and fruits. Rev. KYPA Bearded head of Zeus Ammon to right, with ram's horn over his ear; all within pelleted circle within shallow circular incuse. BMC 43 and pl. V, 17 (same dies). Boston MFA 1310. SNG Copenhagen -. Traité III 1807. Very rare. Minor flan faults and with traces of cleaning and minor roughness, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From a European collection, formed before 2005.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Dalla stessa asta

Lot 112. Estimate: 1000 CHF. Minimum bid: 800 CHF.

KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 480-435 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 11 mm, 1.69 g, 9 h), Asiatic standard. Silphion plant with two pair of leaves and fruits. Rev. [K-Y/P]-A Bearded head of Zeus-Ammon to right, with ram's horn over his ear; all within circular dotted frame within round incuse. BMC -. Boston MFA -. Classical Numismatic Group E-Auction 450 (2019), 267. SNG Copenhagen -. Rare and nicely toned, and of unusual, monumental style. Somewhat rough and with a few minor marks and very light deposits, otherwise, good very fine.
From a Swiss collection, formed before 2005.

apollonia

[apollonia]

Dalla stessa asta

Lot 113. Estimate: 1000 CHF. Minimum bid: 800 CHF.

KYRENAICA. Kyrene. Circa 480-435 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 12 mm, 1.65 g, 3 h), Asiatic standard. Silphion plant with two pair of leaves and fruits. Rev. K-Y/P-[A] Bearded head of Zeus-Ammon to right, with ram's horn over his ear; all within circular dotted frame within round incuse. BMC p. XL, 57a var. (no inscription visible). Boston MFA -. SNG Copenhagen -. Rare and very well centered. Somewhat porous, otherwise, very fine.
From a Swiss collection, formed before 2005.

apollonia