Lot 15
Siculo-Punic. Machanat series, c. 320-315 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.09 g). Diademed head of Arethusa-Persephone-Tanit left, hair wreathed in grains, with necklace and pendant earring; four dolphins around. Reverse: Horse's head to left, date palm behind; below, Punic inscription: 'Mmhnt = "people of the camp." Jenkins pl. 14, no. 188; Rizzo pl. LXVI, no. 10. An exceptional piece, perfectly struck and centered on a broad flan; lustrous. NGC graded About Uncirculated.
In their continuing struggles over empire and commerce, between a resurgent Carthage and the Greek cities of Sicily, dominated by Syracuse, this coin is part of a large issue produced by a new Carthaginian leader, Hamilcar, son of Gisgon. These were in response to military and political, one might say, "assertions" on the part of the tyrant Agathokles of Syracuse, but surely viewed as aggressions by the Carthaginians against their interests. The inscription thus denotes these coins as military issues, produced either at a large headquarters mint, or perhaps even a traveling mint accompanying the operations forces. The features of the goddess on this coin are quite refined for this series, but still reveal the hand of a Punic die engraver rather than a Greek.
Estimated Value $7,000 - 8,000.
Ex Leu 65, May 21, 1996, no. 121.
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| Realized $16,675 |
