Numismata hellenica: a catalogue of Greek coins; with notes, a map ...

Metal Size Weight
N
N
M
JR
M
M
M
JE
JE
M
M
M
JE
M
JE
M
6h
6
5-4
4
3
H
3
3i
3i
3
3
H
5
4
5+
H
13-3
13-3
264-3
204-7
116-7
104-7
52-5
AFRICAN GREECE.
CYRENE.
Note. This city stood, like Baree, at about ten geographical miles in direct distance from the sea,
on the platform
of the Cyrenaica, or that projection of the African coast, which lies immediately
opposite to the Peloponnesus, at the distance of about 200 miles. Consisting of a fertile soil abounding
in water, this country offered a favourable settlement for a Greek colony, when there remained
no other such desirable situation unoccupied in Sicily or Italy. Cyrene was founded by a colony
from Lacouia and Thera, about 630 B. c. For a description of its extensive remains, vide Delia Cella
Viaggio da Tripoli, Genoa, 1819. Pacho, Voyage dans la Marmarique, &c., Paris, 1827. Beechey,
Expedition, &c. from Tripoli eastward, London, 1828.
Bearded head to /., with ram's horn round the ear (Jupiter Ammon) — in dotted
circle. B. Youthful head to r., with hair rolled up.
Note.—The worship of Jupiter Ammon at Cyrene, was derived from the oasis, in the Libyan
desert, 300 miles south-eastward of Cyrene, which is now called Si-wah. Here remains of a temple
still exist, with sculptures of the ram-headed Egyptian god, Amun Cneph ; this was a different deity
from the Amun-re of Thebes, from whom the name Diospolis was given to that city by the Greeks.
Male head, with short hair, to I. ; behind, YM— all in linear circle, ft. Female
head to r., with round earring, and hair rolled up.
Head of Jupiter Ammon to r., in beaded circle ; within which, to r., KYPA.
ft. Silphium. — Electrotype from the B. M.
Same type, without circle or legend, ft. Silphium, with root turned to I. ; across
the field, in three lines, KYPANA.
Youthful head to I., with cornu Ammonis round the ear (Bacchus), ft. Silphium ;
across the field, KYPA ; above in field to I., mon. 34.
Head of Apollo to I. ft. Same type ; across the field, in two lines, KYPA.
Note.—
Apollo was second only to Jupiter Ammon in the estimation of the Cyrenaei. It was by
command of the Delphic oracle that the colony from Thera came to Libya thus ; Apollo was their
archagetes. The great source which fixed the locality of the settlement was named 'AitoXXidvoc
cp^vi), and their port was Apollonia.
Head of Jupiter Ammon to /•., in dotted square, in the angles, KVPA. ft. Silphium,
with root turning to r.
Head of Jupiter Ammon to r. ft. Palm-tree ; in field to ?., K ; below which, PA ;
in field to r., Y ; below which, silphium^crab.
Same type. ft. Same type ; in field to I., KY ; below which, silphium ; in field to r.,
below which, crab.
PA ;
Same type. ft. Same type ; in field to I., K ; below which, PA ; in field to r., Y,
below, r ;
and lower, silphium.
Same type. ft. Same type ; in field to ?., KY ; below which, silphium ; to r., PA ;
below which, crab.
Head of Apollo to r. ft. Lyre ; in two lines, across the field, KYPA.
Same type. ft. Same type and legend ; above the lyre, n.
Youthful head, with horn of Ammon (Bacchus) to r. ft. Palm-tree ; in field to I.,
KY ; below which, silphium ; in field to r., PA ; below which, crab.
Same type ; below to r., A. ft. Silphium, in dotted circle ; in field to r., X ;
to I., Y.
Horseman, galloping to r. ft. Wheel of four spokes ; in interval to I., silphium ;
to r., I.
Head of Jupiter Ammon to r. ft. Silphium ; in three lines, across the field,
KOINON.
Another similar.
Same type. ft. Same type; in one line, across the field, K«IN«N.