Lot 1789

Description

Sicily, Siculo-Punic, (c.320-310 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, mint of the camp, (17.122 grams), obv. head of Persephone, wreathed with corn to left, around four dolphins, rev. horse's head to left, palm tree behind, partial Punic legend = MMHNT (Am Machanat) = 'People of the Camp', (S.6434, Jenkins SNR 56, No.183, o53/r161, dies illustrated Pl.13, 183 [notes 7 coins], SNG Lloyd 1633 [same dies], cf.Munz and Med. sale 43 [lot 27, same dies]). Good very fine and rare.

After a considerable interval, Carthage resumed coining in Sicily around mid-century, probably in response to the challenge of Timoleon. The legends which identify these coins as belonging to the `camp', being the military issues are virtually unique in ancient coinage. A camp mint was moveable, but it may have been headquartered most of the time at Lilybaeum. The obverse type of this coinage is copied from the tetradrachms of Syracuse, but clearly, because of the harshness, a work by a Punic engraver.