Lot 3805

Description

Spain, Punic Spain, silver half one and a half shekel or tridrachm, (c.221-218 B.C.), 24mm, (10.76 g), struck at Carthago Nova, obv. beardless and laureate head of Melqart left, heavy knotted club over shoulder, dotted border, rev. elephant standing right, dotted border, (S.6565, Robinson 6 (c), Muller III, 17, 17; MHC 41; CNH 14 (p.65), SNG BM Spain 98). Very fine or better, holed, excessively rare and extremely important.

This coin is similar to the example from the British Museum illustrated in Harlan J. Berk's '100 Greatest Ancient Coins', p. 65. There the firm belief is expressed that this is a portrait of Hannibal as Hercules. This coin type has rarely been offered in any major international auction since the Lockett sale of 1955.