Gemini, LLC
Auction 11 12 January 2014
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Carthago Nova. 237-227 BC. Dishekel, 13.41g (12h). Obv: Diademed male head left with curly hair. Rx: Prow of war galley with triple ram, on the deck a pile of shields. Beneath, hippocamp right. Dotted border. E.S.G. Robinson, Punic Coins of Spain, in R.A.G. Carson and C.H.V. Sutherland (eds.), Essays in Roman Coinage presented to Harold Mattingly (Oxford 1956), pp. 37 f., 49, no. 4(b), pl. II. G.K. Jenkins and R.B. Lewis, Carthaginian Gold and Electrum Coins (London 1953), p. 45 [on findspots]. L. Villaronga, Las monedas hispano-cartaginesas (Barcelona 1973), no. 12. Pleasant toning. Powerful portrait, virtually unaffected by two holes in left field. Historically important and excessively rare. About EF
Ex NAC 72, 16 May 2013, lot 805
This intriguing issue of the Carthaginian 'provincial' series with diademed portrait and prow of galley was, to judge from the known findspots, issued by a mint in southwestern Spain, probably at Carthago Nova (Cartagena) rather than Gades (Cadiz). The dating is somewhat controversial, although the wide bracket 237-209 BC is generally accepted. The diademed head on the obverse is clearly a portrait, depicting a man in his prime so possibly Hasdrubal, the son-in-law of Hamilcar Barcas, rather than Hamilcar himself. After the Carthaginian defeat in the First Punic War (264-241 BC) and the Libyan rebellion (241-239 BC), Hamilcar attacked Spain, the main supplier of silver in the western Mediterranean, and started conquering vast territories in its southwest. In 230 BC a native revolt broke out, Hamilcar was killed in a skirmish, and his son-in-law Hasdrubal succeeded him. Being a capable governor, Hasdrubal restored the Carthaginian position, and founded Carthago Nova, which had an excellent harbor, as the seat of Carthaginian government in Spain. Carthago Nova is therefore likely to be the mint of this issue that combines the prow of a war galley with the portrait of a young ruler. A date of issue not long after the city's foundation (for financing building activities and the fleet) seems more likely than a date in the Second Punic War (218-202 BC). At any rate, 209 BC, when Scipio Africanus Maior conquered Carthago Nova, would be the latest possible date. Ony two other specimens of this dishekel appear to be known, namely in Madrid, published by Robinson (14.80 g), and in NAC 66, 2012, lot 1 (ex A. Huntington,13.68 g); plus two specimen of the corresponding shekel, in Leu 20, 1978, lot 55 (7.38 g, 12 h), and in Copenhagen (SNG Cop. Suppl. 1332, 7.29 g, 12 h)
Ex NAC 72, 16 May 2013, lot 805
This intriguing issue of the Carthaginian 'provincial' series with diademed portrait and prow of galley was, to judge from the known findspots, issued by a mint in southwestern Spain, probably at Carthago Nova (Cartagena) rather than Gades (Cadiz). The dating is somewhat controversial, although the wide bracket 237-209 BC is generally accepted. The diademed head on the obverse is clearly a portrait, depicting a man in his prime so possibly Hasdrubal, the son-in-law of Hamilcar Barcas, rather than Hamilcar himself. After the Carthaginian defeat in the First Punic War (264-241 BC) and the Libyan rebellion (241-239 BC), Hamilcar attacked Spain, the main supplier of silver in the western Mediterranean, and started conquering vast territories in its southwest. In 230 BC a native revolt broke out, Hamilcar was killed in a skirmish, and his son-in-law Hasdrubal succeeded him. Being a capable governor, Hasdrubal restored the Carthaginian position, and founded Carthago Nova, which had an excellent harbor, as the seat of Carthaginian government in Spain. Carthago Nova is therefore likely to be the mint of this issue that combines the prow of a war galley with the portrait of a young ruler. A date of issue not long after the city's foundation (for financing building activities and the fleet) seems more likely than a date in the Second Punic War (218-202 BC). At any rate, 209 BC, when Scipio Africanus Maior conquered Carthago Nova, would be the latest possible date. Ony two other specimens of this dishekel appear to be known, namely in Madrid, published by Robinson (14.80 g), and in NAC 66, 2012, lot 1 (ex A. Huntington,13.68 g); plus two specimen of the corresponding shekel, in Leu 20, 1978, lot 55 (7.38 g, 12 h), and in Copenhagen (SNG Cop. Suppl. 1332, 7.29 g, 12 h)