Catalog
Æ16 Carthage
| Issuer | Carthage |
|---|---|
| Year | 400 BC - 350 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | 2.5 mm |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Horse galloping to the right in full stride, forelegs raised and hindquarters powerfully rendered, conveying vigorous movement. The animal is depicted naturalistically in the Hellenistic tradition, with no rider. A ground line is suggested beneath the hooves, and the field is otherwise plain with no legend or inscription. |
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| Mintage | ND (400 BC - 350 BC) |
| Additional information |
Carthage's earliest bronze coinage emerged not from domestic monetary tradition but from military necessity — specifically, the need to pay mercenary troops operating in Sicily during the prolonged conflicts with Syracuse. Before this, Carthage had relied almost entirely on silver issues struck in Sicily itself. The shift to bronze for smaller transactions reflects the logistical demands of sustained campaign infrastructure rather than any developed civic monetary culture back in North Africa.
SNG Copenhagen 97 places this piece among the earliest issues of the Carthaginian bronze series.