The Oldest Coin with Chameleon: Tetradrachm from Cyrenaica: 400-331BC

In North African Cyrenaica (present-day Libya) silver coins were minted in the years 431-321 BC (BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE 2020), the reverse side of which, together with the magical and medicinal plant Silphium (used in ancient times as contraceptive and for abortion), depicted a chameleon as a creature that enhanced its power. But even here, it is barely recognizable. His presence reveals a large eye protruding from a confusing background (BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE 2020).

The mysterious plant Silphium is mentioned by PLINIUS MAIOR (Book XIX, Chapter 15). It was endemic in the Cyrenaica region, and in ancient times it was a highly sought-after plant for its strong therapeutic and aphrodisiac effects. It is still not clear what kind of plant it was, nor are there exact reasons for its disappearance. PLINIUS states that in his time (second half of the 1st century AD) it no longer grew in Cyrenaica. The last stem of Silphium found was presented to the Emperor NERO (37-68 AD),

"The juice of this plant is called "laser", and it is greatly vogue for medicinal as well as other purposes, being sold at the same rate as silver. For these many years past, however, it has not been found in Cyrenaica...

Within the memory of the present generation, a single stalk is all that has ever been found there, and that was sent as a curiosity to the Emperor Nero."

The importance of Silphium is illustrated by the fact that its image was minted on coins; the obverse side of the coin held the head of Zeus Ammon; the reverse side depicts the so-called triple Silphium, together with animals that enhance its strength: an owl, a gazelle, a lion, an eagle holding a snake in its beak, a crab, a dolphin... the chameleon - sometimes neglected – was included in Cyrenaica into the society of animals, which were much more important in the ancient world and its mythology (BIBLIOTHEQUE NA TIONALE DE FRANCE 2020).

BIBLIOTHEQUE NATIONALE DE FRANCE (2020) Silver coin of Cyrenaica. https://gallica.bnf.fr Snible.org. https://- snible.org/coins/hn/cyrenaica.html (15. 04. 2020)

Žilková, E. & P. Nečas (2020) The Chameleon in ancient cultures the Mediterranean Region & Near East, amongst superstitions, myths, magic and science (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae). – Archaius 1 (3): 1 – 11