Numismatica Genevensis SA
Auction 9 14 December 2015
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North Africa. Zeugitania, Carthage. Shekel, c. 300 BC. (Silver, 7.53g., 19.3mm). Head of Tanit to left, wearing wreath of grain ears, pendant earring and necklace with nine oblong pendants / Horse standing right on exergual line, with its head turned back to left and a date palm behind; to right, star. Gulbenkian 383. Muller 108. SNG Copenhagen 141.
A very rare example of a shekel made from good silver rather than billon, and produced from dies of very good style. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Triton X, 8 January 2007, 107. Hauck and Aufhäuser 16, 16 October 2001, 223.
Coins of this type were issued at the end of the 4th century, at a time when Carthage was embroiled in a war with Agathokles of Syracuse. The coins were undoubtedly first issued in good silver like this, but the emergency conditions then in effect very rapidly led to their debasement.
A very rare example of a shekel made from good silver rather than billon, and produced from dies of very good style. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Triton X, 8 January 2007, 107. Hauck and Aufhäuser 16, 16 October 2001, 223.
Coins of this type were issued at the end of the 4th century, at a time when Carthage was embroiled in a war with Agathokles of Syracuse. The coins were undoubtedly first issued in good silver like this, but the emergency conditions then in effect very rapidly led to their debasement.