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Tetradrachm
| Issuer | Uncertain Punic mint (Carthaginian Empire) |
|---|---|
| Year | 345 BC - 315 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Tetradrachm (4) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A spirited horse prances to the right before a tall palm tree, a emblematic device of Carthaginian coinage symbolizing the North African homeland. In the right field, a kerykeion (caduceus) is depicted, while above, Nike flies left to crown the horse with a wreath, conferring a martial or athletic victory symbolism common on Sicilian-influenced Punic issues. Below the horse's body appear two Punic letters, and in the left field the Greek letters ΣΩ serve as a control mark or mint notation. The reverse design reflects the strong Hellenistic artistic influence on Carthaginian silver coinage of the late fourth century BC. |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | ΣΩ |
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| Additional information |
These tetradrachms were struck at a Sicilian mint operating under Carthaginian control during a period of near-constant warfare with the Greek city-states of Sicily. The coins were almost certainly produced to pay mercenary troops — Carthage relied heavily on hired soldiers drawn from Libya, Iberia, Campania, and elsewhere, and coinage was the mechanism that held that polyglot military together. Without a pressing payroll need, Carthage had little tradition of striking silver coinage at all.
Jenkins' classification of this series remains the foundational reference, though attribution of individual dies continues to shift as new specimens surface from Sicilian hoards.