Description
Carthaginian Empire, Second Punic War, ‘Punic-Bruttii’ Coinage, Electrum Three-Eighths Shekel (2.76g, 12.5mm, Phoenician Standard), uncertain mint in Carthage-controlled Bruttium, under the occupation by Hannibal, circa 216-211 BC. Obverse: Janiform heads of Tanit, each wearing wreath of grain ears. Reverse: Zeus, holding thunderbolt in right hand aloft and sceptre in left, stands in quadriga commanded by Nike, who holds the reins beside him. Jenkins & Lewis 487–93 (Capua); HN Italy 2013; SNG ANS 146 (Capua); SNG Copenhagen-357. A highly interesting issue out of Hannibal-controlled Bruttium, struck with the same design as the Roman Quadrigatus for recognizability, well centred, good Very Fine, rare.
𐤇𐤍𐤁𐤏𐤋 (Punic), Latinized as ‘Hannibal’, was a Carthaginian Statesman and General Commander-in-Chief of the Carthaginian army during the Second Punic War between Carthage and the Roman Republic. Hannibal swore to his father, Hamilcar Barca, to “Never be a friend of Rome” – this wasn’t just a blind vow of irrational, bloodthirsty malice, but a strategic, dynastic pledge never to accept Roman subjugation, never to surrender Carthage’s independence, and never to allow Rome to dictate his actions.
