Kyrene, Cyrenaica (Magas Reign)

[B]Kyrene, Cyrenaica (Magas Reign; 308-300 BC.) AR Didrachm[/B] [u]Obv[/u]: Horned and laureate head of Apollo Karneios, facing left. [u]Rev[/u]: Silphium plant (Type IIIa) flanked by KY on left and PA on right; coiled serpent in upper left field; monogram in upper right field. [u]Attribution[/u]: SNG Cop.1239; Obv., BMC Cyrenaica 247a-c, Pl.XXII, 27b; Rev. BMC Cyrenaica 245h, Pl.XXII, 24). [u]Provenance[/u]: Baldwin(10.2005,#2111); Gorny&Mosch122(2003,#1629); Schenk-Behrens50(1985,#145). [u]Weight[/u]: 7.54 gm. [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 20.04 mm [u]Axis[/u]: 12 [u]Note[/u]: BMC Period IV (Magas; 308-277 BC.). Rhodian standard. Robinson in BMC Cyrenaica states the following regarding the monogram used on issues BMC nos. 243-8, "the monogram is also met with on the exceptional (Cyrene) coinage with the names and types of Alexander (e.g., BMC Regal Issues nos. 1-2, Alexander AR tetradrachms; Pl. XXVIII, 4, Pl. XXVIII, 3.)...the monogram, though by no means the same as the undoubted monogram of Joppa, which appears on Ptolemaic coins, has been taken to contain the initial letters of that city and the coins assigned accordingly. Assuming that the coins under discussion are contemporary with the didrachms bearing the same monograms they were struck shortly after the final conquest by Magas, say between 308-300 B.C." (pg. cxl). GK195