Hamilcar in Iberia

Triton XVIII, Lot: 301. Estimate $3000. Sold for $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

IBERIA, Punic Iberia. Circa 237-209 BC. AR Shekel (19.5mm, 7.26 g, 11h). Diademed male head (Hamilcar?) left / Prow right; below, dolphin right. MHC 15–9 var. (unlisted dies); ACIP 543; SNG BM Spain 91; SNG Copenhagen Supp. 1332; SNG Lorichs –; MHBNF –. Good VF, toned, areas of weak strike. Rare.

The distinguished career of Hamilcar Barca, as commander of the Carthaginian fleet during the First Punic War, was temporarily interrupted after his defeat at the hands of Rome off Lilybaeum in 241. The peace terms he negotiated allowed him to withdraw his troops to Africa on the agreement that Carthage abandon all claims to Sardinia and Sicily, refrain from sailing her warships in Italian waters, and pay an indemnity of 3,200 talents. The Carthaginian oligarchy soon showed more interest in expanding into Africa and Spain and reappointed Hamilcar as commander-in-chief. In 237, after putting down the revolts of Spendius and Matho in northern Africa, he was sent to Iberia with his young son, Hannibal. Based at Gades, he conquered southern and eastern Iberia, advanced the frontier to Cape Nao, and built a fortress at Acra Leuce (Alicante). Responding to a Roman protest in 231 that was prompted by Massalia, he replied that his conquest was necessary to secure manpower, mineral wealth, and money to pay his country’s war indemnity to Rome. In 229 he fell in battle against native Iberians at Helice (Elche), leaving his three sons, Hannibal, Hasdrubal, and Mago to face Rome once again.