Lot 72
Zeugitana. Carthage, c. 260 BC. Gold Trihemistater 1 1/2 Shekels (12.52 g). Head of Tanit-Persephone left, wearing pendant necklace and earring, hair wreathed in grain. Reverse: Horse standing to right, head turned back. Jenkins-Lewis 388. Perfectly centered and lustrous. NGC graded Choice About Uncirculated.
Founded by Tyre in the 8th century BC, on the coast of northern Africa, Carthage came to be the greatest of Phoenicia's trading colonies. Because of its favorable geographical location, and the excellence of its harbor, the colony would gradually achieve a degree of political and economic importance that would make it independent of its mother city, and even surpass it. By the 6th century it was in a position to dominate the coastal and maritime trade of the western Mediterranean for the next three centuries. In the course of this time they would establish their own trading colonies and commercial outposts in southern Spain, Sardinia, and most importantly Sicily.
In Sicily the sparring for commercial and politico-military dominance mostly focused around Syracuse, its allied cities, and was generally regional. However, things proved far more serious for Carthage when it came to loggerheads with Rome's growing expansionism on the Italian peninsula. The first full-scale conflict with Rome (First Punic War) occurred in 264 BC. Repeated clashes would continue intermittently for the next century, ending with the total destruction of Carthage in the Third Punic War, in 146 BC.
Gold coinage came somewhat late in their coining history, beginning about 380 BC. The handsome trihemistater above is among the largest of the gold denominations, with this particular issue appearing about the same time as the First Punic War. It is quite likely that this coin was among those struck, either for war preparations, or for the financing of operations and the purchasing of allies.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 20.
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| Realized $23,000 |
