Sale: Nomos 5, Lot: 127. Estimate CHF15000.  Closing Date: Monday, 24 October 2011.  Sold For CHF13000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CARTHAGE. Circa 320/15-300 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 17.12 g 12), Lilybaion or Entella (?). Head of Tanit to right, wearing wreath of grain leaves, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; around four dolphins. Rev. S’MMHNT = “People of the Camp” Horse’s head to left; behind, palm tree. Jenkins, Punic, 176 (dies O51/R 156). A lovely example, attractively toned. Extremely fine.

Acquired in the late 1970s from Tradart.

The Carthaginians began producing Greek style coinage beginning at the end of the 5th century BC, primarily for military needs and mostly in Sicily. Often the coins were actually struck in mints that moved with the army. The types were partially taken from Sicilian Greek prototypes (as the female heads and quadrigas) or were Carthaginian inventions (such as the horse head and palm tree that appears on the reverses of this and the following lot). While the female heads are usually based on the Syracusan Arethusa, she must have been the Carthaginian goddess Astarte.