Lot 3757

Description

Siculo-Punic, (c.320-315 B.C.), (Carthaginians in Sicily), silver tetradrachm, (16.82 g), obv. head of Tanit (Dido) to right wearing oriental tiara of stiff radiating pleats with helmet like visor and looped ear-ring, beneath tiara are visible the corkscrew curls of her hair, dotted border, rev. lion walking to right mane is bristling, head low, palm tree with date clusters in background, Punic legend "SMMHNT" (= "People of the Camp") below wobbly exergue line, (cf.S.6433 [p.595], Jenkins, SNR 56, 272 [same dies 085/R226], Boston Addenda 36 [same dies] = Hess Leu 1956 [lot 235], SNG Munich 1617 [same dies], Paris, De Luynes Collection 1472 [same dies], Kraay-Hirmer 208 [same dies]). One of the masterpieces of the Siculo-Punic coinage, a few minor surface blemishes including smoothing before face, light golden grey tone, otherwise good very fine and very rare.

Ex Marion A. Sinton Collection, from Triton III Sale November 30 - December 1, 1999 (lot 350, illustrated) and Noble Numismatics Sale 64 (lot 2437).
Jenkins records fifteen examples from this pair of unique dies with eleven examples in public museums. This right facing head comes from only one pair of dies. See note above.