Kyrene, Cyrenaica (Magas reconciled w/ Ptolemy II)

[B]Kyrene, Cyrenaica (Magas Reconciled with Ptolemy II Philadelphius; 261-258 BC.) AE Dichalkon[/B] [u]Obv[/u]: Diademed head of Ptolemy I with aegis tied at his neck, facing right. [u]Rev[/u]: Large winged thunderbolt (fulmen); MAΓ monogram above; PTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ legend above and below fulmen. [u]Attribution[/u]: Svoronos 324; Noeske 112-113; CNG Cop. 431-432; BMC 76-7, 14. [u]Provenance[/u]: ex. CNG 76(#868), 9.12.07; ex. Gregory Conlin Coll. [u]Weight[/u]: 7.52 gm. [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 20 mm [u]Axis[/u]: 12 [u]Note[/u]: Magas Reconciled with Ptolemy II (ca. 261-258 BC.) All issues bear Magas' monogram. The conventional date of the reconciliation (261 BC. by Robinson, BMC) seems too late to allow for the abundant coinage of this period. There are in any case difficult problems in the chronology of events, both historical and numismatic, from the latter part of Magas' rule to the reign of Ptolemy III Euergetes. Magas and Ptolemy II Philadelphius (after a period of conflict) agreed that their children, respectively Berenice and the Ptolemy who became III Euergetes, would marry, and that Kyrenaica would revert to the Egyptian crown after Magas' death. It would seem likely enough that issues, whose types unite reference to Kyrenaica and the Egyptian dynasty, was struck in recognition of the return of the province to Ptolemaic control. - T.V. Buttrey (Cyrene Final Reports - Vol.VI, 1997, pg.37-39) GK265