Lot 4038
Carthage. Third Punic War, ca. 149-146 BC. Gold Serrate Two-Fifths Shekel (3.0g). Head of Tanit, grain-wreathed, left, wearing single pendant earring. Reverse: Horse walking right; pellet before its chest. Jenkins & Lewis group XVIII, 506 var. (pellet below leg); SNG Cop 401 var (pellet below leg). Well struck and unusually well centered. Very rare. Choice Very Fine.
H.R. Baldus ("Ein 146 v. Chr. verbrannter Geldbörseninhalt aus Karthago," Chiron 33 [2003]) put forth the compelling argument that coins of this serrated issue were struck from melted jewelry contributed in the summer of 149 BC by the women of Carthage after the Roman siege of their city had begun. The ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus tells us that "in preparation of the coming siege [of Carthage]…women shave off their hair to be woven into cords for use in catapults and contribute their gold jewelry to help finance the war effort" (Diodorus Sicilus 32.9).
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized $5,290 |
