Sicily. Lilybaion (as 'Cape of Melkart') circa 330-305 BC. Punic issues
Tetradrachm AR

24mm., 16,70g.

Head of Tanit to right, wearing wreath of grain leaves, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace, around, three dolphins / Charioteer, holding goad in his left hand and reins in his right, driving galloping quadriga to right, above, Nike flying left to crown the charioteer, [RŠMLQRT] (Raš Melqart in Punic = Cape of Melqart) in exergue.

nearly extremely fine, with a beautiful deep cabinet tone

De Luÿnes 920; Jameson 957; Jenkins 37.

After the destruction of Motya by Dionysios of Syracuse, in 397 BC, the Carthaginians, instead of attempting to restore that city, settled its few remaining inhabitants on the promontory of Lilybaeum, which they fortified and converted into a stronghold. Probably they named their new foundation Raš Melqart ("Cape of Melqart") in honor of the chief male deity of Phoenician Tyre, the mother-city of Carthage.