The Hannibal Collection of Carthaginian Coins

Lot 3801    Session 14 (11:30am Thursday 28th July)    The Hannibal Collection of Carthaginian Coins

Estimate $700
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,900

ZEUGITANIA, Carthage, African Revolt (Libya), (c.241-238 B.C.), billon didrachm or shekel, (6.99 g), obv. head of Herakles left wearing lion skin, rev. **LIBUTWN* in exergue, lion walking right, Punic "M" above. (S.6544, Carradice & La Niece, "The Libyan War and Coinage," Num Chron 1988, 1; E.S.G. Robinson, "A Hoard of Coins of the Libyans" in NC 1953, 23 [p.29, Pl.III]; MAA 53, SNG Cop. 239; Muller 349). Superb nearly extremely fine and rare.

At the end of the First Punic War in 246 B.C., Carthage found herself confronted with a dilemma. Large numbers of Greek, Italian and African mercenaries had been hired to pursue the war with Rome, and now Carthage, defeated and bankrupt, had no money for the pay owed to them. Rebellion broke out in Sardinia and Africa. The latter situation became critical when one of the leaders, Matho, a native Libyan, inspired the native population to join the mercenaries against their Punic Carthaginian overlords. Military unrest became a nationalist war of liberation. Coins were struck in the name of Libya and "M", which has been taken as either "machanat"- the Camp (of the mercenaries), or perhaps Matho, their leader. The first issues were apparently on overstruck Carthaginian silver shekels, but later issues are found on newly prepared flans, although the fineness of the silver seems to vary greatly. Hamilcar Barca, the great Carthaginian general, finally suppressed the revolt in 238 B.C.