The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

SI) E. S. G. ROIUXSOX.
(Gyrene or Barce as the case may be) appears on the
reverse beside the head of Ammon, the name of the
now in
dependant on the obverse with the silphium ;
the Barce-Cyrene " alliance " coin, the name of Barce
appears on the reverse, that of Gyrene on the obverse.
Further, as has been observed above, there are no coins
of Attic weight at Gyrene later than the Cyrene-Eue-
' ;
sperides
alliance "
pieces, to correspond to our Nos. 1),
30 at Barce. Once more, to anticipate somewhat, after
the beginning of the next period there is still nothing
to correspond to the Barcaean transitional tetradrachms
of the new weight ;
when the Cyrenaean tetradrachms
do begin again, they are often of poor and coarse work.
Only on some hypothesis of temporary weakness can
we explain this apparent cessation of the tetradrachm
coinage at Gyrene for something like twenty years.
Finally, towards the end of the second period I would
place the following coin ; from which town of the
Pentapolis it issued, the absence of inscription prevents
our even guessing.
31. Obv. Silphium plant with two whorls and five
umbels, and with root.
Rev. Head of bearded Ammon r. ; dotted circle in
circular incuse.
Paris. ,Y. 0-5. Wt. 53 grs. Samian drachm.
This very interesting piece is the first of the Cyrenaic
gold issues. The head recalls, in the arrangement and
treatment of the hair, the second group of the second
period (No. 16) ; the eye is not yet seen in profile. It
is interesting to note that the same standard is
'niployed for the gold as for the silver drachms.