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Sicily, Entella Siculo-Punic mint. Silver Tetradrachm (17.14 g), ca. 340-320 BC. Possibly Kephaloidion,
Panormos, or a Carthaginian mobile mint. Head of Tanit right, wreathed with grain leaves, wearing tri-
ple-pendant earring and necklace; before, two dolphins opposed. Rev. Horse standing right; in back-
ground, palm tree with two bunches of fruits. Jenkins 103 (O35/R93); HGC-2-275. Attractively toned
and of lovely Punic style. Flan crack at 1 o’clock. We also note faint hairline scratches on the reverse.
Extremely Fine.
$2,000
From the Dionysus Collection.
Although Carthage had its own traditions in connection with horses, the horse reverse of this tetradrachm seems to
be drawn from the “free horse” type brought from southern Italy to Sicily by Campanian mercenaries, many of whom
sought Punic service against the Greek cities during the epic struggles for control of Sicily in the fifth and fourth centu-
ries BC. It was an appropriate type for coins struck largely to pay Campanian and other mercenaries. The obverse type, on
the other hand, imitates the popular Persephone type of Syracuse (ironically the chief opponent of Punic expansion into
eastern Sicily). Here, however, the Greek grain goddess is reinterpreted as the Punic Tanit, the great goddess of Carthage.
Very Impressive Akragas Silver Tetradrachm
22
Sicily, Akragas. Silver Tetradrachm (17.39 g), ca. 465/4-446 BC. AKRAC-ANTO
S
(N and
S
retrograde),
sea eagle with folded folded standing left.
rev.
Crab within circular incuse. Lee grp. I; Randazzo 12-4;
SNG ANS 964-7 and 970-80. Boldly struck in high relief, well centered and Fine Style. Attractive, slightly
iridescent, light greyish toning. Superb Extremely Fine.
$5,000
From the Dionysus Collection.
The eagle and the crab were civic badges of Akragas and frequently appeared together or separately on the city’s coin-
age from the fifth to the third century BC. The eagle is somewhat Archaic in style, but with detailed feathering, where-
as the crab almost seems to be engraved from life. Every detail from the contours of the shell down to the serrat-
ed edges of the claws is present here, making this piece a real prize for the rare lover of both coins and marine biology.