Coinage of Carthage

I would appreciate it if some specialist in these coins would post a clear example of this AE17 which was overstruck (on an Akragas, I believe). They must not be too common.

 

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Like one similar to this one:

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1195410
And/or this one:

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1299645

In a quick search on Acsearch, it looks like there are hits for yours (MAA 19 http://www.magnagraecia.nl/coins/Punic_map/Zeugitana_map/descrZ_C22.html) with overstrike:

https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?term=carthage overstrike MAA 18&category=1-2&en=1&de=1&fr=1&it=1&es=1&ot=1&images=1&thesaurus=1&order=0&currency=usd&company=

The 3 mentioned elude to being overstruck on a Tanit/Horse standing right with palm... I can see the horse's hind legs and long tail on far left with what's left of a palm tree trunk what would've been behind the horse (MAA 18):

 

And VERY NICE Carthage (and other Punic era) coins, everyone!

 

In the past couple weeks, I've added a handful more examples to my collection. I'm still confirming the exact identification of some of them.


Circa 300-264 BC, (19mm, 4.44g), MAA 57x (rev: crescent w/pellet)


Circa 400-350 BC, (16mm, 2.6g), MAA 18f (rev: three pellets before)


Circa 350-320 BC, (15 mm, 4.57 g), MAA 20 (rev: uncertain letter/symbol before)


Spanish mint (Cartago Nova?), circa 228-221 BC, (25mm, 9.96g), AB 511 (rev: Punic letter "Beth" or "Bet" before)


Unknown Sardinia mint?, Circa 264-241 BC, (17.5mm, 2.47g), MAA 25 var / SNG Cop 222 (rev: caduceus before)

 

Thank you! I was wrong about the undertype.

 

It was fun doing a little sleuthing. And I learned something doing it.

Since then I was the underbidder on an overstuck example like yours... The hunt is on!

 

It seems well possible that Doug's picture and question have drastically increased the demand for this interesting overstrike. @Justin Lee, did we maybe bid on the same coin (ebay, Feb. 15, ex Roma)?

Also, I have another question myself. When looking for more info on this coin, I saw that different reference works attribute it to a Punic mint either in Sicily or Sardinia. Does anyone know which of the two is considered more likely and why?


Carthage, AE 18, ca. 300–264 BC, Sicilian or Sardinian mint. Obv: Head of Tanit wearing wreath l. Rev: Horse's head r. 18mm, 4.92g. Ref: Hoover: Coins of Sicily (2012), 1671; SNG Copenhagen 149. Ex Artemide eLive Auction 6, lot 221 (their picture).

 

The good news is hat the issue seems to have been overstruck as a rule so there should be many more out there. The bad news is I had trouble telling crab legs from horse legs. That remnant of the tree trunk is a certain give-away. Isn't one of the main reasons we play here on CT that we can 'encourage' others to buy coins and, in turn, discover things we want to seek out? I really believe that coin dealers as a group benefit greatly from that factor of what we do here but I suppose they might prefer we not call them on the negative things they do. Overall, I believe we sell more coins for them than we jinx to a point that it would be altogether wrong for them to kick in a complementary aureus or two. My definition of a good dealer is one who benefits more from his customers' knowledge than he does from ignorance.

 

Yes... That'd be the one. Did you win?

I don't really have an answer... But I've been using the Magna Graecia site for some research:
http://www.magnagraecia.nl/coins/Punic_map/Zeugitana_map/Zeugitana.html
http://www.magnagraecia.nl/coins/Punic_map/Sardinia_map/varietiesA57.html

 

Great coins everyone! Thanks for posting them, Hannibal is my hero from the ancient past. Today, military schools are still teaching his tactics from Cannae/ Lake Tresimene/ Trebia where he wiped out the RR armies, many times the size of his forces.

 

I did – sorry. If I by any chance see another one coming up, you'll get a message, and I also promise to post pictures once I have the coin in hand. Also, thanks for the link!

Most definitely. CT has certainly broadened my numismatic interests a lot.

 

No sorry needed... Congrats!

 

I ended up winning one myself this past week. Here it is illustrating the original coin type and overstrike:

I'd love to see a post of yours!

 

This one is from Bruttium under Carthage's control during the second Punic War.

 

I wanted this Cr-64/6 Mercury/prow over a Sardo-Punic Tanit/bull; #64 in Crawford's list of over-strikes, pg 111. But... I stopped bidding at 3 bills (Euros). There were 12 bids, but I suspect only two bidders. I blinked first. You can see the bull legs at a 45 degree angle to the ship deck. I do not remember seeing either the over or under strikes.

 

...and here it is. It's been a busy week, therefore this comes a bit late.

Carthage, AE17, late 4th or early 3rd c. BC, Sicilian mint. Obv: male head r., flanked by grain ears. Rev: galloping horse r. 17mm, 3.59g. Ref: MAA 19; SNG Copenhagen (Africa) 120; Sylloge Numorum Punicorum 128. Struck over MAA 18; Sylloge Nummorum Punicorum 194 (head of Tanit/horse standing in front of palm tree).

My overstrike is a bit weaker than the other two examples in this thread. Thus, the design of the overstrike is less clear, while the undertype, including much of Tanit's face, is still very visible:


SNP mentions that this type almost always comes as an overstrike. A reason for this is not given, though.

 

That is an excellent site - thank you. I am yet to own a coin of Carthage but I have been looking for some time.

 

If we can skip way, way ahead of ourselves...

 

Since March, I've added a fair amount of other Carthage/Punic-related coins. Some I've created their own thread about:

• CNG winnings... Merciless!
• Is this Punic Iberian coin really Scipio Africanus?

And some I've posted in other threads, like the Coin Theme Game (and I'll share some again here) and some I haven't shared yet.


Kings of Numidia,
Massinissa (203-148 BC) or Micipsa (148-118 BC), AE Unit
Obverse: Laureate and bearded head left.
Reverse: Horse galloping left; possible pellet above(?).
References: MAA 18a, SNG Cop 505-508

“MASSINISSA, King of Numidia, may be compared to the feather that tipped the scale. When two great nations were struggling for the mastery of the world, he threw himself on one side and it won.”
http://www.ijebu.org/conquerors/massinissa/


Hispania-Carthage, 212-208 BC
AE ¼ Calco, Traveling Barcid Military Mint,
Time of Hannibal and Second Punic War
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left.
Reverse: Crested Thracian helmet left, with cheek guards.
References: AB-523; ACIP 582; SNG BM Spain 67; Villaronga 1973, 114; CNH p. 69, 46
Size: 13mm, 1.94g
Notes: Degenerate or crude style. Mobile military mint traveling with the mercenary army defending southern Spain against the Roman offensive in the last years of the Second Punic War.


Hispania-Carthage, 218-208 BC
AE ¼ Calco, Traveling Barcid Military Mint
Time of Hannibal and Second Punic War
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left.
Reverse: Crested Thracian helmet left, with cheek guards.
References: AB-521; ACIP 582; SNG BM Spain 67; Villaronga 1973, 114; CNH p. 69, 46
Size: 12mm, 1.43g
Notes: Fine style; Extremely rare. Mobile military mint traveling with the mercenary army defending southern Spain against the Roman offensive in the last years of the Second Punic War.


Hispania-Carthage, 237-209 BC
AE Unit, Barcid Military Mint, Prior and during 2nd Punic War,
Uncertain Iberian mint (Gades/Gadir? Cartago Nova?)
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left.
Reverse: Head of horse right.
References: ACIP 584, SNG BM Spain 68-73
Size: 21mm, 9.82g
Notes: Degenerate or crude style.


Hispania-Carthage, 228-221 BC
AE Unit, Second Sicilian War,
SW Spanish mint (Cartago Nova)
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left.
Reverse: Horse’s head right; in right field, Punic letter ‘Beth’ or ‘Bet’.
References: MHC, L. Villaronga, Las monedas hispano-cartaginesas, Barcelona 1973, Class VIII, 111B; AB 511
Size: 23mm, 8.65g
Notes: A very rare variety with this Punic letter before the horse.


Zeugitania, Carthage
AE Half Shekel, Second Punic War (218-201 BC)
Struck 215-201 BC
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left.
Reverse: Horse standing right, head left; Punic letter ‘Beth’ or ‘Bet’ below.
References: SNG Cop 273, MAA 95a, Müller 206
Size: 16mm, 2.46g


Zeugitania, Carthage, 350-320 BC
AE Unit, Possibly from other mints (Sicily?)
Obverse: Palm tree, with two clusters of dates.
Reverse: Head of horse left (variation).
References: MAA 20 var (horse head left), SNG COP 102 var (same), Müller 317-318 var (same)
Size: 17mm, 3.10g
Notes: Overstruck on type MAA 15 (400-350 BC).



Zeugitania, Carthage, 400-350 BC
AE Unit, Carthage or Sicilian Mint
Obverse: Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain and earrings.
Reverse: Horse galloping right.
References: MAA 15, SNG Cop 96
Size: 16mm, 4.32g
Notes: Very unique rendering of horse on reverse, with long neck design.


Zeugitania, Carthage, 400-350 BC
AE Unit, Carthage or Sicilian Mint
Obverse: Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain and earrings.
Reverse: Horse galloping right.
References: MAA 15, SNG Cop 96
Size: 16mm, 5.1g

AND FOR THOSE OF YOU STILL WITH ME HERE, YOU GET REWARDED WITH SEEING MY NEWEST CARTHAGE COIN:


Zeugitania, Carthage, 290-260 BC
First Punic War
AE Shekel, Carthage (or Sardinia?) Mint
Obverse: Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain and earrings, pellet or control mark below.
Reverse: Horse head right; palm tree to right, pellet below.
References: MAA 57n, SNG Cop 174-176
Size: 19mm, 4g

 

Sharing this Æ Unit that I won recently; a very common coin but I just love its chocolate-brown color
7.48 g, 18.5 mm, 12h
Carthage mint, ca. 350 - 320 BC
Ref.: MAA 20; CNP 255; SNG Copenhagen (Africa) 102-5; Calciati III 9 - 15
Ob.: Palm tree with two clusters of dates, linear border
Rev.: Head of horse right

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