Sicily, Siculo-Punic AR Tetradrachm. Solus(?), circa 400-350 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping quadriga to right; above, Nike to left, crowning him with wreath; Punic letter K or W in exergue / Head of Tanit-Persephone to right, wearing wreath of grain leaves, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; three dolphins around. Jenkins, Punic p. 78, pl. 22, X.1 = BMC (Siculo-Punic Uncertain) 1 (same dies); HGC 2, 1244. 17.00g, 25mm, 3h.
Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare; seemingly the third known and the only example in private hands, the others held by the British Museum and the Museo Nazionale Palermo.
From a private UK collection, collector's ticket included;
Ex cgb.fr, e-Monnaies September 2018, 11 September 2018, lot 2.
This issue was tentatively attributed to Solus by Jenkins on the basis that the Punic letter in the exergue might represent the first letter of the Semitic name of the city, Kefra. Jenkins admitted however that the reading of the Punic letter is not certain and even if it were it is difficult to explain why the ethnic should be abbreviated to a single letter (see p. 71).
Price realized | 4'000 GBP |
Starting price | 1'800 GBP |
Estimate | 3'000 GBP |