Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 428 5 Sep 2018
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IBERIA, Punic Iberia. Circa 237-209 BC. Æ Half Unit (20.5mm, 5.87 g, 1h). Helmeted male head right / Palm tree. MHC 113; ACIP 581. Good VF, dark green-brown patina. Fine style.
The portrait on this Carthaginian bronze of Spain is of exceptional interest because of the direct parallel it offers to the portrait on silver didrachms struck by the Epirote king Pyrrhus during his campaign in southern Italy (K. Rutter, Greek Coinages of Southern Italy and Sicily, no. 98; BMC Thessaly pl. XX, 11). They compare so favorably in both style and content that either one was inspired by the other, or, more likely, they share the same sculptural prototype.
The portrait on this Carthaginian bronze of Spain is of exceptional interest because of the direct parallel it offers to the portrait on silver didrachms struck by the Epirote king Pyrrhus during his campaign in southern Italy (K. Rutter, Greek Coinages of Southern Italy and Sicily, no. 98; BMC Thessaly pl. XX, 11). They compare so favorably in both style and content that either one was inspired by the other, or, more likely, they share the same sculptural prototype.