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Wonderful Carthaginian Occupation by Hannibal Electrum 3/8 Shekel
242
Carthaginian Occupation. Electrum 3/8 Shekel (2.82 g), ca. 216-211 BC. Struck at Bruttium. Janiform
female heads, wreathed with grain ears. Rev. Zeus, holding thunderbolt and scepter, standing in quadriga
driven by Nike right. Jenkins & Lewis 487-93 (Capua); SNG ANS 146 (Capua); HN Italy 2013. Some tiny
deposits scattered around the obverse surfaces. Extremely Fine.
$4,000
This attractive electrum fraction from Bruttium seems a little confused about its identity. It was struck during Hannibal’s
occupation of the region in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC). The use of an electrum alloy and the shekel weight standard
is typical of Carthaginian coinage of the period, but the types are closely modeled on the silver quadrigati (didrachms) struck
by the Roman Republic (!) before the introduction of the denarius ca. 211 BC. The reverse depicting Jupiter in a four-horse
chariot driven by Victory is directly copied from the quadrigati while the obverse has been modified to better fit the Carthagin-
ian context. While the Roman quadrigati depict a laureate male janiform head - presumably Janus himself, the god of begin-
nings and endings (especially in relation to war) - on this electrum piece the janiform head is female and wears a grain wreath to
indicate that a form of the Punic goddess Tanit was intended.
See lot 414 for another Carhaginian Occupation coin .
243
Carthaginian Occupation. Silver 1/4 Shekel (1.77 g), ca. 215-205 BC. Wreathed head of Tanit-Demeter left.
Rev. Horse standing right. Jenkins pl. C, L2; HN Italy 2020. Attractively toned. Extremely Fine.
$300
ANCIENT JUDEA COINAGE
244
Philistia, Uncertain mints. Silver Drachm (4.25 g), mid 5th century-333 BC. Imitating Athens. Helmeted
head of Athena right, frontal(?) eye. Rev. [A
Q
E], owl standing right, head facing; in upper left field, olive
spray and crescent. Gitler & Tal -; HGC 10, -. Seemingly unpublished. Very Fine.
$1,500
From the Dr. Patrick Tan Collection.