Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Live Auction 5 27 Sep 2022
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North Africa, Carthage AR Shekel. Carthaginian occupation of Spain. Carthago Nova, circa 218-206 BC. Bare male head (Hannibal or Scipio Africanus?) to left / Horse standing to right on ground line; behind, palm tree bearing fruit; Phoenician letter 'yod' to right. ACIP 623 (R7 - similar dies as illustration); CNH 83; NAC 78, 170 var. (letter retrograde - hammer: CHF 1,900). 7.14g, 22mm, 1h.
Very Fine; attractive tone. Very Rare; only nine specimens cited by ACIP.
From the Italo Vecchi Collection;
Ex Jesus Vico S.A., Auction 146, 27 October 2016, lot 71.
In 237 BC Hamilcar Barca, after having lost the First Punic War against Rome, but having won the Mercenary War against the Libyans, disembarked at Gadir with a Carthaginian expedition with the purpose of "re-establishing Carthaginian authority in Iberia" (Polybios, Histories, 2.1.6), and within 9 years he had expanded the territory of Carthage well into the Iberian peninsula, securing control of the southern mining district of Baetica and Sierra Morena, before dying in battle in 228. Hamilcar was succeeded by his son-in-law Hasdrubal the Fair who expanded the new province by skilful diplomacy and consolidated it with the foundation of Akra Leuka, Mahon and finally in 227, Qart Hadasht (Latin: Carthago Nova) as his capital. After his untimely death in 221, he was succeeded by Hannibal (247-182), oldest son of Hamilcar Barca, and Hamilcar's second son Hasdrubal (245-207 BC). The Barcids now wielded control over much of the mineral rich Mediterranean side of the peninsula and continued to do so until 219, when Hannibal made the fateful move of taking and sacking Saguntum, a well established Roman ally. The wholesale slaughter of this Roman ally's population, and the arrogance with which the Roman ambassadors sent to Carthage to seek redress were met, led directly to the Second Punic War: the great statesman Quintus Fabius, speaking to the Carthaginian senate, gathered a fold of his toga to his chest and held it out, saying "Here, we bring you peace and war. Take which you will." The Carthaginians replied "Whichever you please - we do not care." Fabius let the fold drop and proclaimed "We give you war."
The portrait on this coin's obverse, as those found on similar Carthago Nova issues of the time, is generally believed to be that of Hannibal. However, E.S.G. Robinson, in his article on the coinage of Punic Spain (in Essays to Mattingly, 1956), asserted that it is in fact the Carthaginian general's great rival, Scipio Africanus, who is portrayed on the present coin, arguing that this 'latter' portrait type, which was dubbed distinctly 'Roman' by Robinson (see also ACIP 624-5 and compare to 626), belonged firmly to the period after the fall of the city to the Romans in 209.
Very Fine; attractive tone. Very Rare; only nine specimens cited by ACIP.
From the Italo Vecchi Collection;
Ex Jesus Vico S.A., Auction 146, 27 October 2016, lot 71.
In 237 BC Hamilcar Barca, after having lost the First Punic War against Rome, but having won the Mercenary War against the Libyans, disembarked at Gadir with a Carthaginian expedition with the purpose of "re-establishing Carthaginian authority in Iberia" (Polybios, Histories, 2.1.6), and within 9 years he had expanded the territory of Carthage well into the Iberian peninsula, securing control of the southern mining district of Baetica and Sierra Morena, before dying in battle in 228. Hamilcar was succeeded by his son-in-law Hasdrubal the Fair who expanded the new province by skilful diplomacy and consolidated it with the foundation of Akra Leuka, Mahon and finally in 227, Qart Hadasht (Latin: Carthago Nova) as his capital. After his untimely death in 221, he was succeeded by Hannibal (247-182), oldest son of Hamilcar Barca, and Hamilcar's second son Hasdrubal (245-207 BC). The Barcids now wielded control over much of the mineral rich Mediterranean side of the peninsula and continued to do so until 219, when Hannibal made the fateful move of taking and sacking Saguntum, a well established Roman ally. The wholesale slaughter of this Roman ally's population, and the arrogance with which the Roman ambassadors sent to Carthage to seek redress were met, led directly to the Second Punic War: the great statesman Quintus Fabius, speaking to the Carthaginian senate, gathered a fold of his toga to his chest and held it out, saying "Here, we bring you peace and war. Take which you will." The Carthaginians replied "Whichever you please - we do not care." Fabius let the fold drop and proclaimed "We give you war."
The portrait on this coin's obverse, as those found on similar Carthago Nova issues of the time, is generally believed to be that of Hannibal. However, E.S.G. Robinson, in his article on the coinage of Punic Spain (in Essays to Mattingly, 1956), asserted that it is in fact the Carthaginian general's great rival, Scipio Africanus, who is portrayed on the present coin, arguing that this 'latter' portrait type, which was dubbed distinctly 'Roman' by Robinson (see also ACIP 624-5 and compare to 626), belonged firmly to the period after the fall of the city to the Romans in 209.