Bookends of the Punic Wars

Most folks here are probably very familiar with the three major Carthaginian Wars (Punic Wars) that Rome and Carthage "duked-it-out" for supremacy of the Mediterranean World.

Rome ultimately won, and literally wiped Carthage off the map in 146 BCE.

I posted my Double-Shekel from the THIRD Punic War a little while back. However, I was able to find a Double-Shekel from the FIRST Punic War recently. I have Carthage's Double-Shekel "bookend coins" from over a 120 years of major conflict between these two behemoths.

This denomination from Carthage seems very scarce as I search. But they are fun to have in-hand.

Here is a cool map of the wars and the Wikipedia article:

Map:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Domain_changes_during_the_Punic_Wars.gif

Article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punic_Wars

My Latest - First Punic War:

Zeugitania. Carthage
First Punic War, 264-241 BC.
AR Double Shekel, 26 mm, 13.9g
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left
Rev: Horse standing right, star above
SNG Copenhagen 185.
Rare


Third Punic War:

Carthage
Third Punic War with Rome 149-146 BCE
AR Serrate Double Shekel
12.83g, 26mm.
Obv: Wreathed head of Tanit left
Rev: Horse standing right, pellet in crescent(?) below raised left leg
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 404. (re-attributed)
Comment: Very fine, several (cleaning?) scratches.

Yes, I DO have several coins from Carthage for the Second Punic War, and many from prior to the Punic Wars. However, I do not have the Double-Shekel.


Please post any of your Carthage coins, or cool Roman coins from the Punic Wars!

 

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Nice coins & write-up Alegandron.


SICULO PUNIC,
SICILY, Entella.
AR Tetradrachm.
300-289 B.C.
16.72 grams, 23 mm
Obv: Head of Hercules rt. in lion skin
Rev: Horse head left with date palm tree
behind & MHSBM in exergue
[Mint of the Quaestors] series 5b
Grade: aEF nice detail centered & toned
only MHSBM in exergue is weak
Other: Carthaginian mercenary coin ☺
Sim. Sear 6438, SNG.Cop.91, Jen
From Pegasi Numismatics 4/2013

 

Beautiful coins, Brian.

 

OOoooaaahhhh... that is on my TARGET LIST... you and @Mikey Zee have really piqued my interest!

 

Thanks. I have always liked this size of coin... close to TET size...

 

Very, very nice, Alegandron.

Unfortunately, I do not have any coins of this time period in my collection. I have nevertheless always been very interested in the history of Rome's relation with Carthago. So much so, that at age 15, while in boarding school in the UK, I wrote a 70-page dissertation on the Punic wars. My teachers were surprised that a foreign boy would spend so much time in the 130-year old library of the school digging up dusty long-forgotten books recounting the history of Rome and the Carthaginians.
I still remember the final sentence of my school-dissertation...''the Romans, to punish Carthago for their offense, destroyed the city and sowed salt deep into the furrows in the earth to ensure that on this site ne'er shall anything grow again....''

I must get me some coins from this period.

 

@Alegandron, good writeup, you have an outstanding Carthage/Punic collection!

I have no double shekels, but here's an AE shekel from the Second Punic War, circa 215-201 BC.

Carthage
Æ Shekel (21mm, 6.31 g, 12h).
Obv: Head of Tanit left, wreathed with corn, wearing earring.
Rev: Horse standing (walking?) right, head left looking back, foreleg raised; Punic alef (=a) below.

 

I also have a Spanish coin from Carthago Nova minted during the 2nd Punic War. Called the Roman Scipio issue. If this truly is Scipio on obverse, it would make him the first living Roman to be portrayed on coins.

My coin is pretty rough, I believe @Alegandron has a nicer one?

209-208 BC Punic Hispania, Carthago Nova
AE 14 - 1.78gm
Obv: Male head [Scipio?] of Roman style left.
Rev: Horse head right

 

I remember that exact quote from my school days also!

Thank you for the kind comments.

 

Very nice coin Brian. I have no real nice AR coins from Carthage, but here is what I have:

 

And some Roman coins struck at Carthage
JULIUS CAESAR
MAXIMIANUS

CONSTANTIUS I

 

For Carthage, I chose a bronze coin of Emperor Galerius in addition to a denarius of Septimius Severus that has Dea Caelestis on reverse.

 

I am always amazed at the concept of Carthage as its own City/Empire vs. Carthage in the Roman Empire. It was a stark reminder of its history when I was going through my SNG COP North Africa Plate book.

My Third Punic War issue was basically the last of a series of coins struck by Carthage the City/Empire in 146 BCE. Then over 100 years LATER, around 37 BCE, the ROMANS began minting from Carthage.

The reason for the 100 year pause? Carthage was literally WIPED OFF THE PLANET... people, buildings, they salted the land, etc - completely destroyed. The Romans were literally terrified of their gaining power again due to their brutal beatings during the Second Punic War with Hannibal.

Amazing when you see Carthage coins in a book, then no more... until Rome.

 

From the second Punic war , minted in Carthago province of Zeugitania:

 

Wonderful piece... and your horse made it in JUST by a nose!

 

Very nice coins Alegandron! I don't have any from Carthage but here is one from Syracuse, right in the middle of the action.

Syracuse, Sicily, under Roman rule, after 212 BC. AE20.Obv: Bust of Demeter-Core right, wearing wreath of corn-ears.
Rev: Demeter standing left, holding torch and transverse sceptre. SURAKOSIWN
SNG Cop 911

 

Good stuff... nice patina. Tough year for Rome!

 

Super pick-up Brian!!! I absolutely LOVE it!!

Jeez, it seems I should have your Punic collection considering my avatar LOL...and you should have my three bronzes and my sole Tetradrachm---which I'll post, BTW, although I still haven't managed a photo since I liberated it

I'll keep a sharp eye out for any 2nd Punic War 'double shekels' that come up

 

Some super sweet coins here with an awsome OP. Congrats.
I really need to get some Carthage coins. I still only have the one. Because its a Carthage its still one of my favorite coins in my collection even if it is a little on the humble side.

My avatar as well.

 

I do not think it humble. I really liked it the first time you showed it!