Watch List notes:

Greek Coins
Iberia, Carthago Nova

Hispano-Carthaginian issues. Dishekel circa 221-206, AR 13.92 g. Diademed and bearded head of Melkart-Heracles (Hamilcar Barca?) l., with club over r. shoulder. Rev. Elephant advancing r., with cloaked rider holding goad in outstretched r. hand. De Navasques 463 (these dies). CNH 13 (this obverse die). Robinson, Essays Mattingly, 6(a). Villaronga-Benages 553.
Very rare. An issue of great importance and fascination with a powerful portrait,
dark tone and a few light areas of corrosion, otherwise good very fine
All varieties of Barcid silver depicting the bust of Heracles with a club over his shoulder – bearded or clean-shaven –are of historical interest, even if we are left to speculate as to the intentions of the engravers. Were these portraits meant to represent Barcid commanders, or were they just differing visions of Melkart-Heracles? Considering the extraordinary events of the era and the headstrong personalities of the Barcid commanders, many believe it was the intention of artists to portray their commanders in the guise of Melkart-Heracles.Robinson suggested that the clean-shaven portraits depict Hannibal, and that the bearded head may have been Hannibal's effort to portray his deceased father, Hamilcar Barca. It was also his view that the bearded heads likely were struck first, only to be followed by the clean-shaven portraits by which Hannibal represented himself. Beyond the differences in the portraits, these two issues also offer variety in their closely related reverse types: the issue of the clean-shaven portrait shows an elephant walking, whereas the bearded-head type adds a rider to the scene.