Despite my avatar, whenever I tried to replace now missing Punic coins to my collection, it was either too late to bid or my budget was shot to pieces .... but finally I succeeded. These examples are the typical Punic type-----Tanit and a horse combination, but stylistically varied one from the other....hardly surprising since 140 years separate them. The first was struck 400-350 BC and circulated hundreds of years before the 1st Punic War (264-241 BC), while the second, struck circa 221-210 BC, was circulating just prior to and during the Hannibalic War of 218-201 BC. While I will dispense with any further historical information, I will note this bit of 'trivia'---Carthage was more properly known as 'Qart Hadasht' or 'New Town' due to its Phoenician/Semitic origins and was latinized to Carthago or Carthage by the Romans. Please feel free to post any coin of Carthage or Phoenicia.
I don't know why this coin sings to me. But it does Carthage, Zeugitana Coin: Bronze Shekel None - Wreathed head of Tanit left None - Horse standing right, looking left Mint: Carthage (215-201 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 7.07g / 22mm / - Rarity: Scarce Acquisition/Sale: $0.00 Notes: Dec 4, 13 - Ref: SNG Copenhagen 309-13 CARTHAGE, SECOND PUNIC WAR And Dobbin Carthage, Zeugitana Coin: Bronze 3 shekel - Goddess Tanit left - Horse right, foreleg up Mint: Zeugitana (201-195 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 17.78g / 28mm / - Rarity: Rare References: cf MMA 105 And this one Carthage, Zeugitana Coin: Bronze - Head of Tanit left, wearing wreath of grain ears - Horse's head right; pellet before Mint: Zeugitana (300-264 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 0.00g / 17mm / - References: SNG Copenhagen 169-171
Bronze coins of Carthage often of a quality only a mother could love . All of the above examples, and the one below, are beautiful to me . Someday I'd like to get some Punic gold, perhaps silver as well. The "someday" list is miles long though. ZEUGITANA, Carthage early 2nd century BCE AE 15-shekels, 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
Carthage! Eww Nice coin though, MZ! One of my favorite characters from the Second Punic war (besides Scipio Africanus) is Quintus Fabius Maximus. No relation to Magnus Maximus!
Fabius the Cunctator??? Otherwise known as the 'Delayer' ?? He practically saved the Romans from annihilation with his 'guerrilla' tactics...As Hannibal is quoted as saying..."Fabius always prevented me from mischief..." And Marcellus is another fascinating General to research....
Yep, the Shield of Rome; a title he deserved. He was a brilliant man, a pity the Senate only listened to him after Cannae.
An ancient Carthaginian silver shekel coin. Struck circa 264 - 241 B.C. at the Zeugitana mint. The obverse with the head of Tanit facing left. The reverse with horse standing right, head turned left, palm tree behind. Diameter: 21 mm. Weight: 6.90 g. Provenance: Ex. Collection of Professor J.E.Seaver. Professor Seaver taught ancient history at the University of Kansas and was a keen opera lover, hosting his own radio show on the subject for nearly 60 years. He was a passionate collector of ancient coins and often used them to aid his teaching.
Love the video about Fabius Maximus - a/k/a Fabius the Delayer! He was derided for his tactics, but he had the right plan for the right time until the brilliant general Scipio rose to finally defeat Hannibal. As you can see, my avatar name is Carthago. I was really into the Punic wars, especially the 2nd with the titanic struggles of Rome and Hannibal. I had thought when I first got into ancients that I would focus on that time period and coinage. Alas, it was short lived and I found myself gravitating to Roman Republicans exclusively. I kept the moniker and only one coin from Carthage in my collection.
Rare Billon Tridrachm of Hannibal Second Punic War North Africa, Zeugitana, Carthage Hannibal Barca s. 210-205 BC Billon Tri-drachm 25.6mm x 10.54g Obverse: Bust of Tanit Left. Reverse: Horse Standing right, Palm tree behind. ref. Lorber-168 "Coin Hoards Vol. IX 2002 Punic "Horse & Palm" Billon Tridrachms" by C. Lorber
Hello Mike, I had a collection of 50 of these Punic coins, later even two silver Hannibal coins, sorry all sold. I only have left...but I have some nice Phoenician terracotta's...see two. Also still many Phoenician silver coins, but I think many of them are already posted. Maybe I will start again collecting them..but there so much nice things out there..and no budget .
Terrific posts !!! I'd love to score a silver coin of the type in the coming year.... Hey, it's possible
Wow, total fricken winners, Mikey-Z (congrats) ... two complete winners with super eye-appeal (man, I always love the looks of those sweet AE examples) Ummm ... I'm gonna toss-in a coin from Carthage ... congrats again Carthage Horse-head AE20 300-264 BC Tanit & Horse-head
Well done ! Beautiful Carthago coins...looks like Tanit was finally seeing the ultimate truth in the 2nd coin during the 2nd Punic War! She has a pretty stern countenance...
Carthage AR 2/3 Shekel ca 300 BCE 18.4mm, 4.4g Obv: Tanit left, wreath, earring Rev: Horse standing r, head turned l, Ref: Sear Greek Vol 2 6491; SNG COP 143 var R Rare Ex: Glenn Terry, ex Tom Mann
For the 2nd Punic War, 2 examples of Trishekels as tribute... Carthago AE Trishekel ca 220-215 BCE 30mm, 17.6g Obv: Tanit l, wearing wreath of grain, single pendant earring Rev: Horse std r, palmtree background to left, Punic 'B' to r Ref: MAA 84; Muller Africa 145; SNG COP 344
Carthago AE Trishekel ca 220-215 BCE 30mm, 19.7g Obv: Tanit l, wearing wreath of grain, single pendant earring Rev: Horse std r, palmtree background to left Ref: MAA 84a; Muller Africa 150; SNG COP 340
I agree with your earlier comment: You need to find that silver Carthage shekel... They are cool, but kinda hard to capture...