Watch List notes:

ITALY. Calabria. Tarentum. Punic Occupation. AR Half Shekel (3.55 gms), ca. 212-209 B.C. NGC AU, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 3/5.
HGC-1, 931; HN Italy-1079. Punic Standard. Obverse: Nude youth on horseback left, holding filleted palm frond and crowning horse; ZΩ to right, ΣΩΓE/NHΣ below; Reverse: Phalanthos, holding Nike and cornucopia, on dolphin left. An impressively well-struck piece with sharp details and legends. The lustrous surfaces display beautiful toning with hints of blue and amber iridescence.

Tarentum was a fierce rival of the Roman Republic, famously requesting the aid of Pyrrhus of Epirus in 280 B.C., thereby initiating the Pyrrhic War. After Pyrrhus was defeated and forced to flee, the Tarantines had no choice but to surrender and become a nominal ally of Rome. Their loyalty proved fickle, however, as when Rome suffered a series of reversals at the hands of the Punic general Hannibal, the Tarantines quickly surrendered their city to the Carthaginian forces in 212 B.C. During the subsequent years of occupation, Tarentum struck coinage to the Punic weight standard in order to pay the foreign garrison. Interestingly, this issue retained Tarentum's iconic horseman and dolphin rider types instead of adopting Punic imagery as many other occupied cities had done. Rome regained the upper hand and took back the city in 209 B.C., and this fascinating short series would be Tarentum's final silver coinage.

From the Mark and Lottie Salton Collection.

Estimate: $300 - $500