Ancient Gold Coins - Greek

Lot 4396    SESSION 16 (9.30AM FRIDAY 20TH APRIL)    Ancient Gold Coins - Greek

Estimate $15,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

ZEUGITANA, Carthage, (possibly Siculo-Punic), (c.264-241 B.C.), the time of the First Punic War, electrum trihemistater or Attic tridrachm, (10.76 g), obv. head of Tanit to left wearing necklace with twelve pendants tied at back with ends hanging loosely, a triple pendant earring and a wreath of grain ears, rev. horse standing to right on exergual line with sun-symbol and two Uraeus-serpents above, (S.6474 [p.599], Jenkins Group Xa, cf.414, Weber 8491, SNG Cop.996). Minor flan crack at 12 o'clock, very fine style, otherwise good very fine/nearly extremely fine and rare.

In a slab by NGC as strike 5/5 surface 3/5.
In addition to the death and destruction caused by the First Punic War between Carthage and Rome, the impact on the Mediterranean economy was also profound. Though immensely rich, Carthage's stock of gold reserves, were eventually reduced to the point where coins of pure gold were increasingly debased with silver, producing denominations such as this remarkable electrum trihemistater. An unusual feature is the quasi-Egyptian solar disk flanked by serpents above the proud Punic horse.