The New York Sale
Auction 54 11 Jan 2022
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Sicily, Entella. Silver Tetradrachm (16.96 g), ca. 320/15-300 BC. Siculo-Punic issue. Wreathed head of Arethusa left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace; four dolphins around. Reverse: M (Neo-Punic), Horse's head left; behind, palm tree. Jenkins 233 (O72''/R199); PCG IV C21 (same dies, but the obv. has since been recut). Lustrous surfaces. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $2,500 - UP
The typology of this coin illustrates the great influence that the coinage of Syracuse still maintained at the end of the fourth century BC. The obverse type is a fairly faithful copy of the head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins found on contemporary Syracusan tetradrachms, although she may have been understood by the Punic issuers as a representation of Tanit, the patron goddess of Carthage. The horse's head and palm tree on the reverse serve to advertise the origins of the issuers. The former was a civic badge of Carthage, which was said to have been founded on a hill where a horse's head was found buried in the ground while the palm tree (phoenix in Greek) is a punning reference to the Phoenician - and perhaps specifically Tyrian - origin of Carthage. The Punic inscription refers to the issuing authority as "the people of the camp," clearly indicating that the coin was struck to finance the frequent Punic campaigns against Syracuse and the other Greek cities of eastern Sicily. This particular issue was probably struck in connection with the great war of 311-306 BC that saw Punic forces under Hamilcar overrun most of Sicily to the gates of Syracuse, but he was forced to withdraw after Agathokles, the tyrant of Syracuse, led an unexpected invasion of Carthaginian territory in North Africa.
The typology of this coin illustrates the great influence that the coinage of Syracuse still maintained at the end of the fourth century BC. The obverse type is a fairly faithful copy of the head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins found on contemporary Syracusan tetradrachms, although she may have been understood by the Punic issuers as a representation of Tanit, the patron goddess of Carthage. The horse's head and palm tree on the reverse serve to advertise the origins of the issuers. The former was a civic badge of Carthage, which was said to have been founded on a hill where a horse's head was found buried in the ground while the palm tree (phoenix in Greek) is a punning reference to the Phoenician - and perhaps specifically Tyrian - origin of Carthage. The Punic inscription refers to the issuing authority as "the people of the camp," clearly indicating that the coin was struck to finance the frequent Punic campaigns against Syracuse and the other Greek cities of eastern Sicily. This particular issue was probably struck in connection with the great war of 311-306 BC that saw Punic forces under Hamilcar overrun most of Sicily to the gates of Syracuse, but he was forced to withdraw after Agathokles, the tyrant of Syracuse, led an unexpected invasion of Carthaginian territory in North Africa.