Nice coins Anoob! I had a Silver Shekel slip through my hands too in frustration! I will get one. Yours is a nice consolation prize. I have a few other AE Carthage coinage, but will show at a later time. Yours are great!
Phenomenal detail on those coins, Brian. Well-done! And everyone's posted some super coins in this thread.
Thanks, John! I love the dark to black patina...really shows them off. I did not expect to get both during the bidding, but they attribute as 2 different versions. I like the fact that they were struck when Carthage was at its Zenith during their struggle with Rome...and that they survived Rome's attempted extinction of Carthaginian heritage.
Terrific posts!!! Ironically enough, I still am missing a Punic coin..... just haven't matched my budget with availability to replace a few with those I once had... TIF seems to have all the 'humongous' sized examples LOL
Wanted to jump in here the other day, but I've been holding off on posting coins till they arrive...so this showed up today: Edit to add: 19mm, 4.9g
Carthaginian AE came in several sizes so when we show a photo it is good to mention diameter or weight. This is not as important when we show a denarius or antoninianus which tend to be the size they are expected to be. Carthage has some even larger than my big one. 27mm 17,17g dishekel 18mm 5.7g 20mm 5.0g (thin by comparison): Note these show how the flans were prepared in open molds. My first two were slightly overfilled making one side over the top and wider than the side that showed the sprues but they differ on which side was up when the coin was struck on the blank. The third one lost the sprue when they were broken apart leaving a bit of a recess. Not everyone is interested in such technical matters but studying them might answer some concerns about the edges of our coins. A coin of Carthage with sprues and a cast look to the edge is nothing to worry about. The same look on a coin of Athens would be a huge red flag shouting 'fake'.
It's my zombie horse...I haven't had a chance to verify weigh & measurement but was sold as 19mm 4.9g.
Doug: on the last AE20 Shekel... On the Rev is that an O control mark (Punic Letter) or denomination mark? I have never seen the Punic Letter so strong, even after wear. Nothing is stated in my reference book... Ah, I think I answered my own question: Phoenician O is an eye, representing the sound oo. Well, that's a strong EYE on your Shekel! Probably seen a lot over the last 2300+ years...
Great coins folks, and Thks Alegandron for the writeup My only carthaginian so far, but I love it Siculo-Punic, AE16 264-241 BC Head of Tanit left Horse right and palm tree 1.75 gr, 16 mm Ref : SNG Cop. 111 Q
Now you know why I bought that coin -- well, the fact that it was cheap because of the wear and I don't mind wear did have something to do with it.
I enjoy the Carthaginian coins, and have one or two small ones. My favorite though is from Cartagonova, Spain and may be the first living Roman on a coin... Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus. The attribution is debated, but I can afford this one. This portriate beat the Titus Quinctius Flaminius gold stater, 2nd living Roman on a coin, by about 10 years and the Julius Caesar coins by over a century.
I like this! I have been on the prowl for it... and nice you have captured one. 'Twas a bit presumptuous of Scipio, but of course, he was on a tough campaign in Spain...way away from home... Got a little ego boost in his younger years...
I have a couple of sweet Carthage examples ... 800 years apart!! Carthage Horse-head AE20 300-264 BC Tanit & Horse-head Vandals in Carthage, AE21 Nummi 523-533 AD Soldier & Horse-head