Freeman & Sear - Gemini I, Session 1



      ancient classic artifacts coins numismatic roman greek 



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                        Lot: 58

                        (click on image to enlarge)
                        PUNIC SICILY: Machanat. Ca. 320 BC. AR tetradrachm 
                        (17.11 gm).

                        PUNIC SICILY. Machanat. Ca. 320 BC or a few years later. 
                        Silver tetradrachm (17.11 gm). Head of Dido right, 
                        wearing pleated Phrygian tiara and hoop earring / Lion 
                        walking right, palm tree in background, Punic legend 
                        sh'mmhnt (people of the camp) below. Jenkins, SNR 56, 
                        272 (O85/R226). Rizzo pl. lxvi, 8 (same dies). 
                        Kraay-Hirmer 208 (same dies). Luynes 1472 (same dies). 
                        Well-centered and a fine example of this classic rarity. 
                        Good very fine 

                        Ex Sotheby's, London, 8 July 1996, lot 32. 

                        This is one of three special emissions portraying the 
                        Carthaginian foundress Dido, arguably the most 
                        expressive because its pleated Phrygian cap evokes a 
                        murex shell from Dido's native Tyre. Jenkins could not 
                        explain the lion reverse type as an adjunct to Dido, and 
                        speculated that the obverse type should perhaps be 
                        identified as Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild beasts, 
                        who may have been equivalent to the Punic Tanit. Jenkins 
                        suggested a possible date of issue in 314, in which case 
                        the three special emissions may have served as 
                        presentation pieces for the elite battalion of two 
                        thousand citizens enrolled for Hamilcar's campaign 
                        against Agathocles. 
                        Estimated Value: $ 15,000 




...Sold for $21,000 USD [ approx 15960 EUR, 11130 GBP ] plus 15% buyers fee. 

Gemini I Auction Closed Jan 11-12, 2005. 

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear (www.freemanandsear.com) 
                      and Harlan J Berk (www.harlanjberk.com).