Silphium Plant - Zeus, struck 300 BC
To appreciate the pendant's size, the relief of the coin and the shape of the bail, see the picture showing the coin next to a US quarter (will post soon). The coin was first set in a gold bezel, which was then hammered over the edge of both sides. This was then sanded and polished. This pendant is built to last.
-- Coin information:
KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Magas - Silver didrachm
Obverse: Head of Zeus Karneios right
Reverse: Silphion plant; cornucopia to right
Struck circa 294-275 BC
Silphium is an unidentified plant that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, and medicine. It was the essential item of trade from the ancient North African city of Cyrene, and was so critical to the Cyrenian economy that most of their coins bore a picture of the plant. The valuable product was the plant's resin, called in Latin laserpicium, lasarpicium or laser (the words Laserpitium and Laser were used by botanists to name genera of aromatic plants, but the silphium plant is not believed to belong to these genera).
- Comes with certificate which guarantees authenticity and provides background information (listed below) on the acquired coin
- Jewelry pouch included; Pictured 14k gold chain can be purchased separately
- Interested in ancient coins? I wrote a little bit about what I find fascinating about them here: https://tinyurl.com/24pkndjw
Ancients people would sometimes chisel (test cut) a coin to determine if the coin was a good, official, solid silver or gold coin, or if it was a fourree, a plated counterfeit.
Owls on Ancient Coins Owls are depicted on many different ancient coin types but the most prolific types are the coins of ancient Athens. The ancient slang names for the coins of Athens were "owls" (but in Greek of course) and "girls" (referring to Athena on the obverse, also in Greek). "Owls" were so popular as a central currency of the ancient world that the design remained essentially unchanged and somewhat archaic long after other cities began to produce coins of a more refined artistic style. "Owls" of Athens are still very popular. For collectors, they are perhaps the most popular ancient coin type.
To appreciate the pendant's size, the relief of the coin and the shape of the bail, see the picture showing the coin next to a US quarter (will post soon). The coin was first set in a gold bezel, which was then hammered over the edge of both sides. This was then sanded and polished. This pendant is built to last.
-- Coin information:
KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Magas - Silver didrachm
Obverse: Head of Zeus Karneios right
Reverse: Silphion plant; cornucopia to right
Struck circa 294-275 BC
Silphium is an unidentified plant that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, and medicine. It was the essential item of trade from the ancient North African city of Cyrene, and was so critical to the Cyrenian economy that most of their coins bore a picture of the plant. The valuable product was the plant's resin, called in Latin laserpicium, lasarpicium or laser (the words Laserpitium and Laser were used by botanists to name genera of aromatic plants, but the silphium plant is not believed to belong to these genera).
- Comes with certificate which guarantees authenticity and provides background information (listed below) on the acquired coin
- Jewelry pouch included; Pictured 14k gold chain can be purchased separately
- Interested in ancient coins? I wrote a little bit about what I find fascinating about them here: https://tinyurl.com/24pkndjw
Ancients people would sometimes chisel (test cut) a coin to determine if the coin was a good, official, solid silver or gold coin, or if it was a fourree, a plated counterfeit.
Owls on Ancient Coins Owls are depicted on many different ancient coin types but the most prolific types are the coins of ancient Athens. The ancient slang names for the coins of Athens were "owls" (but in Greek of course) and "girls" (referring to Athena on the obverse, also in Greek). "Owls" were so popular as a central currency of the ancient world that the design remained essentially unchanged and somewhat archaic long after other cities began to produce coins of a more refined artistic style. "Owls" of Athens are still very popular. For collectors, they are perhaps the most popular ancient coin type.
To appreciate the pendant's size, the relief of the coin and the shape of the bail, see the picture showing the coin next to a US quarter (will post soon). The coin was first set in a gold bezel, which was then hammered over the edge of both sides. This was then sanded and polished. This pendant is built to last.
-- Coin information:
KYRENAICA, Kyrene. temp. Magas - Silver didrachm
Obverse: Head of Zeus Karneios right
Reverse: Silphion plant; cornucopia to right
Struck circa 294-275 BC
Silphium is an unidentified plant that was used in classical antiquity as a seasoning, perfume, aphrodisiac, and medicine. It was the essential item of trade from the ancient North African city of Cyrene, and was so critical to the Cyrenian economy that most of their coins bore a picture of the plant. The valuable product was the plant's resin, called in Latin laserpicium, lasarpicium or laser (the words Laserpitium and Laser were used by botanists to name genera of aromatic plants, but the silphium plant is not believed to belong to these genera).
- Comes with certificate which guarantees authenticity and provides background information (listed below) on the acquired coin
- Jewelry pouch included; Pictured 14k gold chain can be purchased separately
- Interested in ancient coins? I wrote a little bit about what I find fascinating about them here: https://tinyurl.com/24pkndjw
Ancients people would sometimes chisel (test cut) a coin to determine if the coin was a good, official, solid silver or gold coin, or if it was a fourree, a plated counterfeit.
Owls on Ancient Coins Owls are depicted on many different ancient coin types but the most prolific types are the coins of ancient Athens. The ancient slang names for the coins of Athens were "owls" (but in Greek of course) and "girls" (referring to Athena on the obverse, also in Greek). "Owls" were so popular as a central currency of the ancient world that the design remained essentially unchanged and somewhat archaic long after other cities began to produce coins of a more refined artistic style. "Owls" of Athens are still very popular. For collectors, they are perhaps the most popular ancient coin type.
