Kyrene, Cyrenaica (Jason magistrate; 332-322 BC.)
AV Hemidrachm/Triobol

Obv: Three silphium plants arranged around central pellet, each with three umbels and one pair of leaves with leaflets; BMC silphium Type Ia.
Rev: Athena wearing crested Corinthian helmet and hair in formal curls, facing left; IAΣ behind and downwards (partially off flan); KYP above (off flan).

Attribution: Naville 41; BMC 134-35, Pl. XV (1-2); Weber col. 8440; Jameson 3, 88, 2138; SNG ANS 1211.
Provenance:

Weight: 2.01 gm.
Maximal Diameter: 11.0 mm
Axis: 12

Note: Following a treaty with the Macedonian Empire upon its conquering of Egypt, Kyrene modified its coinage to conform with stylistic tendencies of Alexander III coinage. Athena appears for the first time on the Kyrene AV hemidrachms (nos. 134-7, Pl. XV. 1-5). She had been early identified with an indigenous armed goddess worshipped on the shores of Lake Tritonis (the lesser Syrtes), and her cult was old-established at Kyrene. Herodotus (ii. 182) brackets the dedication to her of a gilt statue by Amasis with the Pharaoh's other two dedications in Hellas, to Athena Lindia at Lindus and to Hera at Samos, while games celebrated in her honor are mentioned by Pindar. The threefold form (of silphium) was possibly adopted on the Attic hemidrachms or triobol to indicate its denomination. (BMC Cyrenaica pg. lxxx-lxxxi).

GK219