Heritage World Coin Auctions
Dallas Signature Sale 3091 6-7 May 2021
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Ancients
ZEUGITANA. Carthage. Time of Hannibal (213-210 BC). AR half-shekel (19mm, 2.93 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, brushed. Second Punic War issue. Carthage or uncertain mint in Sicily, ca. 213-210 BC. Laureate male head left (Melqart, Hannibal or Mago?); dotted border / African elephant advancing right; aleph (Phoenician) in exergue, linear border. A. Burnett, SNR 62 (1983), 123. E. S. G. Robinson, "Punic Coins of Spain and their Bearing on the Roman Republican Series,"Essays Mattingly series 8b, pl. III (Gades). SNG Copenhagen 383. Superbly struck from dies of excellent fine style. Areas of toning, highlighting the remarkably realistic images on both sides.
The distinctive obverse head has been variously described in the literature as a depiction of Melqart, a Semitic version of Heracles, Hannibal in the guise of the god, or possibly his brother Mago. Modern scholarship, which tends to be suspicious of early claims to see portraits in images of gods, interprets the head as that of Melqart. However, the distinct physiognomy of the nose and other facial features, as well as the sideburns, suggest an attempt at true portraiture.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-zeugitana-carthage-time-of-hannibal-213-210-bc-ar-half-shekel-19mm-293-gm-12h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-/a/3091-31005.s?type=CoinArchives3091
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 5000-6000 USD
ZEUGITANA. Carthage. Time of Hannibal (213-210 BC). AR half-shekel (19mm, 2.93 gm, 12h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, brushed. Second Punic War issue. Carthage or uncertain mint in Sicily, ca. 213-210 BC. Laureate male head left (Melqart, Hannibal or Mago?); dotted border / African elephant advancing right; aleph (Phoenician) in exergue, linear border. A. Burnett, SNR 62 (1983), 123. E. S. G. Robinson, "Punic Coins of Spain and their Bearing on the Roman Republican Series,"Essays Mattingly series 8b, pl. III (Gades). SNG Copenhagen 383. Superbly struck from dies of excellent fine style. Areas of toning, highlighting the remarkably realistic images on both sides.
The distinctive obverse head has been variously described in the literature as a depiction of Melqart, a Semitic version of Heracles, Hannibal in the guise of the god, or possibly his brother Mago. Modern scholarship, which tends to be suspicious of early claims to see portraits in images of gods, interprets the head as that of Melqart. However, the distinct physiognomy of the nose and other facial features, as well as the sideburns, suggest an attempt at true portraiture.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-zeugitana-carthage-time-of-hannibal-213-210-bc-ar-half-shekel-19mm-293-gm-12h-ngc-choice-au-5-5-/a/3091-31005.s?type=CoinArchives3091
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 5000-6000 USD