Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 133 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. The Carthaginians in Sicily.
Tetradrachm, uncertain mint in Sicily "people of the camp" circa 330-320, AR 17.14 g. Head of Tanit (Kore-Persephone) l., wearing barley wreath, earring and pearl necklace. Rev. Horse prancing r. in front of palm tree with two clusters of dates. McClean 3037 (this obverse die). Boston, MFA 488 (this obverse die). Gulbenkian 364 (this obverse die). Jenkins, Punic Sicily III, O42/R – (unlisted reverse die).
Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly the finest specimen known.
A portrait of great elegance struck in high relief on a broad flan and an enchanting
old cabinet tone. Almost invisible traces of overstriking on obverse,
otherwise good extremely fine
Ex Leu 20, 1978, 52 and NGSA 6, 2010, 38 sales.
The obverse type is a fairly faithful copy of the head of Arethusa found on contemporary Syracusan tetradrachms, although she was probably understood by the Punic issuers as a representation of Tanit, the patron goddess of Carthage whose worship at times may have included child sacrifice. Much as the obverse type may use established Syracusan iconography to represent a Punic goddess, the reverse type also seems to mix other cultural elements. The wonderful leaping horse of the reverse may allude to the "free horse" type that served as an ethnic badge of the Campanians-a warlike Italic people who often served as mercenaries in Punic armies and settled in Sicily. Indeed, it has been suggested that the Punic "camp" series may have been struck at Entella, a city known to have been by held by Campanian mercenaries by the end of the fifth century BC. At the same time, the palm tree (phoenix in Greek) in the background is a punning reference to the Phoenician-and perhaps specifically Tyrian-origin of Carthage. Although this type is usually broadly dated to the period c. 330-320 BC, it is tempting to connect it to Punic military activity in Sicily between 345 and 339 BC. In 345 BC, Punic forces made a bungled attempt to capture Syracuse after which Carthaginian possessions in western Sicily faced raids by Timoleon and his Peloponnesian mercenaries. The Punic response was to raise a great army to invade western Sicily, but this was defeated by Timoleon at the battle of the Crimissus River in 339 BC.
Tetradrachm, uncertain mint in Sicily "people of the camp" circa 330-320, AR 17.14 g. Head of Tanit (Kore-Persephone) l., wearing barley wreath, earring and pearl necklace. Rev. Horse prancing r. in front of palm tree with two clusters of dates. McClean 3037 (this obverse die). Boston, MFA 488 (this obverse die). Gulbenkian 364 (this obverse die). Jenkins, Punic Sicily III, O42/R – (unlisted reverse die).
Rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly the finest specimen known.
A portrait of great elegance struck in high relief on a broad flan and an enchanting
old cabinet tone. Almost invisible traces of overstriking on obverse,
otherwise good extremely fine
Ex Leu 20, 1978, 52 and NGSA 6, 2010, 38 sales.
The obverse type is a fairly faithful copy of the head of Arethusa found on contemporary Syracusan tetradrachms, although she was probably understood by the Punic issuers as a representation of Tanit, the patron goddess of Carthage whose worship at times may have included child sacrifice. Much as the obverse type may use established Syracusan iconography to represent a Punic goddess, the reverse type also seems to mix other cultural elements. The wonderful leaping horse of the reverse may allude to the "free horse" type that served as an ethnic badge of the Campanians-a warlike Italic people who often served as mercenaries in Punic armies and settled in Sicily. Indeed, it has been suggested that the Punic "camp" series may have been struck at Entella, a city known to have been by held by Campanian mercenaries by the end of the fifth century BC. At the same time, the palm tree (phoenix in Greek) in the background is a punning reference to the Phoenician-and perhaps specifically Tyrian-origin of Carthage. Although this type is usually broadly dated to the period c. 330-320 BC, it is tempting to connect it to Punic military activity in Sicily between 345 and 339 BC. In 345 BC, Punic forces made a bungled attempt to capture Syracuse after which Carthaginian possessions in western Sicily faced raids by Timoleon and his Peloponnesian mercenaries. The Punic response was to raise a great army to invade western Sicily, but this was defeated by Timoleon at the battle of the Crimissus River in 339 BC.