ZEUGITANA. Carthage. AR 1/2 Shekel (3.37), Carthage or Sicilian Mint, Time of the Second Punic War, ca. 213-210 B.C. NGC AU, Strike: 5/5 Surface: 4/5.

MAA-Unlisted; SNG Cop-383. Obverse: Laureate head of Melkart left; Reverse: Elephant advancing right; Punic A in exergue. Tremendous quality for this RARE and popular type, presenting a pleasing strike and solid centering. Struck either in Carthage for use in Sicily, or onsite in Sicily, these issues are a product of the Second Punic War. The Punic army was in the midst of their Italian campaign in Sicily during the striking of this coinage, and these issues were stuck for circulation there. The Punic War was a titanic clash of the Ancient powers Carthage and Rome, and this coin serves as evidence of the protracted nature of the conflict, which only ended with Scipio's decisive North African campaign.

From a New York Collection.