Fun times: Couple of great Auctions lately yielded a couple of nice AE coins from Carthage. Carthage was the OTHER World Power up until around 201 BCE when they lost the 2nd Punic War to Rome. They limped along for another 50 years, and began to really rebuild themselves and their City. Unfortunately, too many politicos (lead by Cato the Elder), finally swayed Rome to extinguish Carthage from the planet. From 148-146 BCE Rome fought the 3rd Punic War. In the end, Carthage as a City and Entity was obliterated from the planet. The City was razed, people slaughtered, and the few left over were sold into slavery. Carthage was extinct. Later, perhaps another 50 years later, it was rebuilt by the Romans, but it was not a Punic Carthage, rather a Roman Carthage. Empire of Carthage: Nice synopsis of the History of Carthage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Carthage Cato the Elder Yeah... "Dalenda est Carthago" was this guy's mantra... (besides, "Get me some more prune juice!") Imagine today if a World Power WIPED OUT another World Power and made them extinct... Here are a couple cool AE's that I captured, 1 each from a couple of different auctions. Ahhh... COINS! CARTHAGE: 2nd Punic War Carthage 220-215 BCE AE 31mm approx 18g 2nd Punic War Tanit Horse Palm Punic S inside T SNG COP 342 Carthage just prior to 1st Punic War Carthage 300-264 BCE AE 19 19mm 5.62g Sardinia mint Tanit wreathed Horse hd r Punic letter ayin SNG COP 151 JP Righetti collection Please post any of your Carthage Coins are any of the Roman Republic during these times
Great post and very interesting coins. I am still after a gold Tanit stater. Congrats on your very nice wins.
Both very nice coins with great detail, congrats Alegandron, haven't got any Carthage coins to date but working on it..
Both are nice-- the Sardinia horse especially so I have a smattering of Punic coins. Smallest: IBERIA, Punic Iberia c. 237-209 BCE; Æ 12.4 mm, 1.4 gm Obv: head of Tanit left Rev: helmet to left Ref: (I haven't verified these) SNG BM Spain 67; CNH pg. 69, 46; Burgos 524 A hasty purchase 4 years ago and I still haven't really studied this coin Largest (and one everyone is probably sick seeing ) ZEUGITANA, Carthage early 2nd century BCE AE 15-shekel, 45 mm, 95 gm Obv: wreathed head of Tanit left Rev: horse standing right, left foreleg up; solar disk with uraei above Ref: Alexandropoulos J (2000) Les monnaies de l'Afrique Antique, 103; Müller L (1861) Numismatique de L'Ancienne Afrique, 131; Luynes 3782; Jenkins GK and Lewis RB (1963) Carthaginian Gold and Electrum Coins, Royal Numismatic Society, London, pl. 28 12 Ugliest: IBERIA, Punic Iberia 237-209 BCE AR 1/4 shekel Obv: laureate male head left (Melqart/Herakles? Hannibal?); club over far shoulder Rev: Elephant walking right. Ref: MHC 47; CNH 15; SNG BM Spain 102 Prettiest (and man oh man I'm still over the moon about this coin ): SICILY, Entella. Punic issues c. 300-289 BCE; AR tetradrachm, 24 mm, 16.8 gm, 12h) Obv: head of Melquart-Herakles right, wearing lion skin Rev: head of horse left; astragalos (cut over poppy) to left, palm tree to right, Punic MHSBM (approximate meaning is "quaestors" or financial controllers) below Ref: Jenkins, Punic 366 (O115/R298), series 5b A brief video showing the coin in "live" lighting:
All of these are fantastic @TIF ! Your two AR's have been in my crosshairs a couple times. Then another cool coin steps in the way when I pull the trigger!
Wow Brian those are spectacular. I especially like the AE. Great write up too. That Cato the Elder was so crotchety. Nicely done @TIF. Cool coin video also.
Okay, so now, with the following question, I will flaunt my ignorance: Why all the horses? Was Carthage known for its horse breeding?
Fantastic posts everyone!! Three of mine: Carthage, Zeugitana, 221-210 B.C. Head of Tanit / Horse Carthaginians in Sicily, 300 - 289 B.C., Silvertetradrachm, Jenkins Punic 394 (O120/R322); SNG Cop VIII 91; Dewing 983; SGCV II 6438; HGC 2 295 Zeugitania, Carthage. 400-350 B.C. Bust of Tanit / Horse by Palm
As I read through my SNG Cop book, it is heavily plated with horses and horse heads. I believe reading Carthage history that they liked horse breeding as part of their culture.
I had my eye on both of those! Decided not to go after the FSR one, and totally forgot to bid on the Sardinian. Now I'm glad... because they both went to our CT Carthage Master!! Still happy with what I got out of the FSR sale... seems that nobody else noticed the Tacitus double-ant??
Well, THANK you! I am honored that they caught your good eye, but glad I did not have to battle you for them! There are still several I am interested in pursuing, including a Siculo-Carthage Tet!
