North Africa, Carthage AR 1½ Shekel. Uncertain Iberian mint (Carthago Nova?), circa 237-227 BC. Laureate head to left (Melqart or Hasdrubal), with club over right shoulder / Elephant to right. CNP 445; MHC, Class III, 43 (O28/R42); ACIP 554; AB 486. 11.12g, 24mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Very Rare.

From a private European collection.

In 237 BC Hamilcar Barca, after having lost the First Punic War against Rome, but having won the Mercenary War against the Libyans, disembarked at Gadir with a Carthaginian expedition with the purpose of ‘re-establishing Carthaginian authority in Iberia’ (Polybios, Histories, 2.1.6), and within 9 years he had expanded the territory of Carthage well into the Iberian Peninsula, securing control of the southern mining district of Baetica and Sierra Morena, before dying in battle in 228. Hamilcar was succeeded by his son-in-law Hasdrubal the Fair who expanded the new province by skilful diplomacy and consolidated it with the foundation of Akra Leuka, Mahon and finally in 227, Qart Hadasht (Latin: Carthago Nova) as his capital, literally meaning ‘new city’ and identical in name to Carthage itself. It was founded on the site of a town named Mastia which was chosen as it possessed one of the best harbours in the western Mediterranean, thus enabling it to serve as the primary port and capital city of the Barcid dominion in Spain.

This bold type has been dated to the early period of Hasdrubal’s command in Spain; in contrast to the coinage attributed to Hamilcar, this type makes no reference to the traditional naval power of Carthage, instead adopting the African elephant as the reverse type. Evidently not a war-elephant (note the absence of either a mahout or a fighting tower) it is perhaps best interpreted as a symbol of Carthage or Barcid power in general. Indeed it is known that Hasdrubal favoured diplomacy and the demanding of hostages to further expand his influence in Spain; the club-wielding Herakles-Melqart implies the threat of force rather than its open display.

Though Robinson (Essays Mattingly) interpreted the beardless head of Melqart on this coin as bearing the features of Hannibal Barca, the dating of the issue (as per Villaronga, MHC) suggests it is more likely to be Hasdrubal, if indeed an individual commander’s likeness is shown.