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 Replies: 26 / Views: 3,739 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Extinct plants- Now that is something you need for an ancient coin collection. I have searched for an extinct plant coin for nearly 3 years. I have nearly pulled the trigger on lesser examples available online in the usual places. I have even considered paying big money for one, well good thing..I didn't. I found this one in a privet collection of a collector I used to do business with online, who no longer sells online. he knew I was looking for one of these coins and being a seasoned collector of good taste he had one. Being a nice guy he gave this to me for wonderful deal. This coin was minted in Kyrene, Kyrencia North Africa around 300 BC. With wonderful old cabinet toning the coin appeals to me on several levels. The horned head of Karneios, a ram horned incarnation of Apollo, that captivates the harvest, fruits of the vine, agriculture as well as the metaphysical incarnation of harvest which includes death and the ultimate freedom of the soul. Then there is the reverse, the coveted and now Silphium plant, ironically cultivated to extinction by the ancients. The plant appears frequently on coins of of Kyrene and is said to have had fruits that were used both as an aphrodisiac and contraceptive, the last specimen was said to have been eaten by the Roman emperor Nero in around 68 AD. Africa Kyrencia, Kyrene AR Didrachm (Stater) s. 308-277 BC 19.4 mm x 7.62 grams Obverse: Karneios, horned head right. Reverse: Silphium plant, KY-PA in fields. Ref: SGCV 6319, BMC 52 Note: Rare, Nicely centered, VF  |
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Super coin with beautiful details and patina. Maybe I can find one some day.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
That a coin would serve as documentation to Botany boggles my mind.
Really, unless written records have survived what other documentation is there?
Again, I am in awe of ancient coins.
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Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
Amazing coin, like its new!
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1569 Posts |
Very nice  You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
What a beautiful example! Congratulations! :)
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Cool coin, I want one now ;-)
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5155 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
3626 Posts |
None are as nice as yours Noob.
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Valued Member
United Kingdom
201 Posts |
Funny enough, had already checked vcoins since my last post  . Girlfriends birthday coming up though so zero coin budget for me this month ... Unless ..... perhaps I could get her an example depicting the silphium fruit and claim its a romantic gesture   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
@ pish - right on.
@ jimbo - now you're cooking with Crisco.
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New Member
United States
42 Posts |
@matthewvincent
The only other source than writing and pictures would be to find DNA evidence of the decays of such a plant.
We use art, writing, and coins to depict what people may have looked like. Why not a plant?
Then again, to your point, they sure made of plenty of stories too. Chimeras aren't really, but are shown and written of.
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
1569 Posts |
Nathan, that coin gets juicier the more I look at it, it's gorgeous! The only coin I have that has the same effect on me is the tunny fish one I got from your good self. 'we wants it my precious.....'  You will never soar like an eagle if you hang around with turkeys.....
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Valued Member
United States
61 Posts |
I have never given that avenue of collecting a thought!
Beautiful Coin, Great Collecting Idea!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
lod254,
I assume when the coin was made the plant had not gone extinct yet.
And I presume that if the location of the mint of the coin can be identified
then the location in which to search for DNA can be narrowed.
Thanks for making me think.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4981 Posts |
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Replies: 26 / Views: 3,739 |
Posted 05/06/2014 9:27 pm
