SICILY. Siculo-Punic. Ca. 264-260 BC. AR 5-shekels or decadrachm (39mm, 36.45 gm, 11h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 2/5, Fine Style. Punic standard. Sicilian mint, ca. 264 BC. Head of Tanit left, hair wreathed with grain ears, wearing single-pendant earring; finely dotted border / B'RST (Punic, read right to left), Pegasus flying right; finely dotted border. HGC 2, 1664. SNG Copenhagen 180. Kraay-Hirmer 211. SNG Fitzwilliam 1512. SNG Lloyd 1665. AMB 567. Jenkins Punic Sicily VI 450 (O4/R191). Bright highlights on deep cabinet toning. Ex Collection of a Gentleman (Stack's Bowers & Ponterio, August 2021 ANA Auction, 16 August 2021), lot 42065; Vinchon (13 April 1985), lot 205 Carthage, a Phoenician colony on the coast of North Africa, became a maritime powerhouse in the fifth century BC and challenged the Greek cities of Sicily and southern Italy for control of the western Mediterranean. By the early third century, much of Sicily had fallen under Carthaginian control and mints were established on the island to produce coins used to pay the largely mercenary army. The stage was now set for collision with Rome, the newly dominant power in Italy. Starting in ca. 264 BC, Carthage and Rome fought three titanic wars that produced more death and destruction than any other conflict before the 20th century. This massive silver piece was struck during the First Punic War with Rome (264-241 BC) and was of the earliest phase, being on the Punic instead of the Attic standard. Jenkins translated the Punic as meaning "in the land," perhaps a statement by the Carthaginians they were the rightful occupants of Sicily, as opposed to the newly arrived Romans.

HID09801242017

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