Kyrene, Cyrenaica (Ptolemy IV Philopator reign)

[B]Kyrene, Cyrenaica (Ptolemy IV Philopator Reign; 221/0-204/3 BC.) AE 19[/B] [u]Obv[/u]: Diademed head of Zeus Ammon w/ uraeus, long flowing hair and beard, facing right; dotted circular border. [u]Rev[/u]: Two eagles standing left on thunderbolt; silphium in left field, type consisting of terminal and two auxillary umbels; PTOΛEMAIOY BAΣIΛEΩΣ legend surrounding; all bound with dotted circular border. [u]Attribution[/u]: var. BMC 106-8 (pl. 32, 19); Svoronos 1158 (pl. 37, 19); SNG Copenhagen 455 [u]Provenance[/u]: ex. Sphinx Numismatics (204GH9), 2.8.09. [u]Weight[/u]: 6.87 gm. [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 19 mm [u]Axis[/u]: 10 [u]Note[/u]: Svoronos suggests that this issue may "belong to a later reign," which appears to be adopted by Robinson, who places this rare issue during the reigns of Ptolemy VII Euergetes and/or Ptolemy Apion. Robinson writes, "the...series is determined by the silphium symbol on the reverse. Svoronos places it with some hesitation under Philopator, Poole under Ptolemy X (BMC Ptolemies, p. xxx). It must belong to the second century." But, aside from "splitting the difference" between Svoronos and Poole, Robinson provides no firm justification for his assertion that the coin was minted later than Philopator's reign. Svoronos notes 18 specimens, while Robinson details 3 early-to-mid 19th century specimens. Buttrey failed to find any examples of this type in his corpus of bronze coin finds at the Temple of Demeter [see Buttrey (1998). The bronze coinage of Cyrenaica. In The Extramural Sanctuary of Demeter and Persephone at Cyrene, Libya: Final Reports, Vol. VI.]. JB306