ZEUGITANA. Carthage. Ca. 350-320 BC. AV stater (18mm, 9.24 gm, 9h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Bust of Tanit left, hair wreathed in barley ears, wearing triple-pendant earring, and necklace with seven pendants / Horse standing right, three pellets to lower right. Jenkins & Lewis Group IIIf, 48. MAA 4. Well centered and fully struck, with exceptional luster. The first gold staters struck by Carthage during 350-320 BC were of a nearly pure alloy and weighed more than the ubiquitous gold staters of Philip II and Alexander the Great. As time went on this coinage was debased with silver and reduced in weight-- hence the much more numerous Carthage staters produced after circa 320 BC are now termed "electrum." This early stater in pure gold shows a delicacy of style that indicates the dies were created by a Greek engraver of consummate skill.

HID99912102018