Lot 2591

Description

Sicily, Siculo-Punic, (c.350-320/315 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, uncertain mint, (16.842 grams), obv. head of Persephone or Kore, wreathed with corn to left, rev. horse to left, compact palm tree behind, no legend in the exergue, (S.6434, Jenkins SNR 56 (1977), Series 2a, No.74, o22/r67, dies illustrated Pl.3, Jenkins notes three coins this example is believed to be the fourth example known (Schulman Auction Sale 264, 26.4.1976 (lot 5089, similar dies and condition realised 9100 +15.6% guilders), McLean collection 3035 similar type). Crude flan shape, good very fine and extremely rare dies and a very rare type.

After a considerable interval, Carthage resumed coining in Sicily around the mid-century, probably in response to the challenge of Timoleon. There are no legends which identify these coins as belonging to a mint or even to the `camp', but are probably military issues and consequently 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 rather crudely from the tetradrachms of Syracuse, but clearly, because of the harshness, is the work by a Punic engraver.