Hey all, I've had a recent budding interest in the coinage of Carthage. I spent the night putting together this little visual with the 5 coins that I have from that empire (I have one more shekel on the way, but not in hand yet). Anyways, I thought I'd share the fruits of my labor with you all... Please share any other Carthage coins you have, be it a 15-shekel, an AR 1/4 shekel, and everything in between. Thanks!
At a glance I thought it was a @Deacon Ray graphic (that's a big compliment ). Well of course I'm going to shove that coin into this thread. As Zumbly once said, you know how those big bronze egos are . 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; Flying Spaghetti Monster 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 A tiny Punic bronze: 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 ...and this coin which still makes me swoon: 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 Ex Gorny & Mosch 138 (7 March 2005), lot 33
Jumping ahead half a millennium: Constantine I ("the Great"), as Caesar, (A.D. 307-337) Carthage mint, A.D. 306 RIC 51c Obv: FL VAL CONSTANTINVS NOB CAES Rev: SALVIS AVGG ET CAESS FEL KART - Carthago, in long robe, standing, facing left, holding fruit in both hands Γ in exergue; H in left field 27 mm, 11.0 g.
MAN-O-MAN! If I were still Design Director at the Federal Agency printing office I retired from 2 years ago—I'd hire you on the spot—or make you a serious offer at least ! Heartfelt and inspiring work, Justin—your visual talent is a gift from our Creator! Bless you, my friend! Beautiful info-graphic!
Thank you, TIF! You've been a continuous inspiration to me—from my first day on the Forum—your great advice and breathtaking coins have helped guide a path for me that I've never regretted following.
Great stuff @Justin Lee! Thanks for sharing the coins and you masterful display makes me keep scrolling back up to look at it again Oh, if only the H bomb only had known how to follow up after he pulled off the greatest upset until Tyson vs Douglas. What would the world be like? I must think it would be near unrecognizable to us. Yeah yeah, ryro. And what if 6 were 9? Ok ok. Enough pondering the coulda beens. Here's some of mine from Sicily! ZEUGITANA Carthage Late fourth–early third century BC. Æ 19.3 (6.69 gm). Palm tree / horse head right. SNG Copenhagen 102. Attractive light green patina. Punic Domain, Carthage Sicily(?), Bronze, c. 350-320 BC; AE (g 4,40; mm 17; h 12); Palm-tree, linear border, Rv. Head of horse r., linear border. MAA 20; SNG Copenhagen 102. Dark patina. Carthaginian Domain, Sicily c. 4th-3rd cent. BC. ’ (17mm, 2.7g, 3h). Wreathed head of Tanit l. R/ Horse standing r. before palm tree. SNG Copenhagen 1117-9 (Zeugitania).
Excellent coins and display @Justin Lee. I have had my eye on getting an example from Carthage for some time.. I will have to move it up my want list now..
Beautiful presentation and great coins @Justin Lee ! I enjoy collecting Carthage due to their huge impact on the Roman Republic. I probly have over 50 of their coins... Here are a few randoms: Carthage - Zeugitana AV 1-10th Stater-Shekel 350-320 BCE 0.94g 7.5mm Palm- Horse Head SNG COP 132 Carthage Zeugitana 310-270 BCE EL Dekadrachm-Stater 18.5mm 7.27g Tanit Horse 3 pellets in ex MAA 12 SNG COP 136 Carthage Zeugitania AR ½ Shekel 17mm 3.8g 2nd Punic War 218-202 BC Sicily mint 216-211 BC Tanit l Horse r sun as double uraeus SNG COP 359 Carthage - Sicily AR Litra 4th C BCE 9.5mm 0.65g Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 74 EE Clain-Safanelli RARE Bruttium Carthage occup 2nd Punic War AR Half-Shekel 216-211 Tanit Horse SOLAR-O HN Italy 2016 SNG Cop 361-3 Carthage - Zeugitana AR Shekel-Didrachm 360-264 BCE Tanit Horse r head l palm SNG COP 141 Carthage 300-264 BCE AR 2-3 Shekel Tanit-Horse Sear6491 SNG COP143var-tile Carthage mint 2nd Punic War 203-201 BCE BI 1½ Shekels 24mm 9.4 g Wrthd Hd Tanit - Horse stndng R hd L, raised foreleg Pellet SNG COP 394 Carthage 201-175 BC Æ 15 Shekels 45 mm 7.5 mm thick. 102g WreathTanit Horse uraeus above. MAA 104 SNG Cop 400 RARE Carthage Sardinia AE19 First Punic war 264-241 BCE 5.4g Tanit left - Horse head right symbol SNG Cop 225
Nice coins and great display @Justin Lee - I've got to practice my photoshop skills so I also can make cool displays.
Since you are asking for different denominations, styles, etc., here are a few AE's: (They did not ALWAYS have a Horse reverse...) Carthage 216-215 BCE Sardinia mint AE 3.3g Tanit L - BULL stndg R CNP 377a Carthage AE 31mm Trishekel 220-215 BCE 2nd Punic War Tanit Horse Palm Pumic th SNG COP 342 Carthage Zeugitania 400-350 BCE AE 15mm 3.39g Head of Tanit left Horse galloping r SNG Cop 97 Carthage Zeugitania Æ17 6.1g 350-320 BCE Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 102 Carthage Siculo AE 15 Palm Tree Pegasus Bruttium Carthage occupation Hannibal Italy 215-205 BC 2nd Punic War AE 19 Tanit Horse Hd RARE Carthage Iberia 218-208 BC AE 13 1/4 Calco Barcid Military Mint 2nd Punic War Tanit Helmet Carthage AE Trishekel Tanit Horse 220-215 BCE 2nd Punic War 30mm 19.7g Lot 36 Carthage AE Trishekel Tanit Horse 220-215 BCE 2nd Punic War 30mm 17.6g Lot 35
Additionally, I have 5 coins from their Libyan / Mercenary War. They were minted by the Mercenary Army opposing Carthage (Yeah, their OWN army). These are generally harder to get: Carthage Zeugitania Libyan Revolt AR Shekel 24mm 7.34g 241-238 BCE Wreathed Tanit Horse stndg control mark and Punic M SNG Cop 236 Oversrike - Carthage LIBYAN UPRISING Mercenary War 241-238 BCE AR DiShekel Herakles Head in Lion's Head- Lion walking R SNG Cop 240f Carthage Zeugitania after 241 DIshekel AE 27 10.8g Libyan Revolt Tanit - Horse r palm MAA 45 SNG Cop 253 scarce Carthage - LIBYAN REVOLT Rebels 241-238 BCE 9.63g 24mm Shekel Sardinia mint Tanit 3 Grain ears Crescent SNG Cop 247 Carthage - LIBYAN REVOLT 241-238 BCE Sardinia mint Tanit 3 Grain ears SNG Cop 252
Unlike my screen name suggests, I only have 2 Carthaginian examples left over from my collecting life prior to my current Roman Republican diet: SICILY, Entella. Punic issues. Circa 320/15-300 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.21 g, 12h). Head of Persephone left, wearing barley-ear wreath, triple-pendant earring, and necklace; four dolphins around / Horse’s head left; palm tree to right, Punic ‘MMHNT below. Jenkins, Punic 156 (O48/R141); Boston MFA 491 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 84 (same obv. die); SNG Lockett 1050 (same obv. die) CARTHAGE. Circa 310-290 BC. EL Stater (7.4g, 12h). Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and necklace with ten pendants; pellet before neck / Horse standing right; three pellets in triangle below exergue line. Jenkins & Lewis Group V, 282; Weber 8492
I found these 2 coins of Carthage in my old folders. The first was struck under Roman Emperor Galerius, Cohen 191. The second is tiny and seems related to the Punic wars.
A very worn quarter Shekel; once it must have been a nice head of Tanit, but I guess history left its imprints: Zeugitania, Carthago, 220 - 205 BC 13 mm, 1.74 g; Ref.: SNG Copenhagen 339; Jenkins & Lewis pl. 28, 2. Could also be SNG Copenhagen 335; Jenkins & Lewis pl. 28, 4. Not sure. Obv.: Wreathed head of Tanit (Persephone) l. wearing single pendant earring Rev.: Horse standing r.
@Alegandron's Carthaginean collection is of course the bee's knees, but that's a pretty nice bunch of coins you've put together, Justin! (And wow, I had no idea you were such a graphic artist!) I seem to have a hard time landing Carthagineans that I'm happy with, still searching for the right Punic War issue for example. But here are three I like: My newest one is a shekel dating to 300-265 BCE: (I see this made my 2018 Top 10 under $100 list that I never posted. Probably too late to bother now...) I also have this quarter shekel (1.77g) from Hannibal's time, issued in Spain c. 237-209 BCE (some think it's actually a Hannibal portrait): And finally this "AE unit" also from Punic Iberia at the tail end of their occupation there (c. 220-209 BCE), although some think it was issued after the victories of Scipio Africanus and the Roman-style portrait depicts him:
My contribution to the Carthegenian theme. Ok, so it isn't Micipsa, Byzantines are my favorite coinages from Carthage.