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.



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.