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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,615 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
 Obverse: NO LEGEND: Wreathed head of Tanit left. Reverse: NO LEGEND: Horse's head right. Mint: Zeugitana, Carthage: 300-260 BC Dia: 20 mm Wt: 5.5gm Orient: unaligned Ref: SNGCop 169 I think I got a decent deal for this coin since I've seen coins in worse shape go for a lot higher. I just ordered this coin for $24. It's also larger than many I've seen so it must be an older coin in the series, perhaps. I know the obverse is rough but I like the engraving style compared to others. I just ordered the coin so it may be a few days before it arrives here. I often wondered why they have horses on the reverse of their coins. Are horses part of their religion, or are were they masters of horses and revered them? I haven't seen a good explanation for it. Edited by Gil-galad
12/03/2012 6:48 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Aw, was going for one when I get paid in a few days!  Oh well, glad to see it go to someone here  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2044 Posts |
Sorry, bro. If you would have mentioned it I wouldn't have got it. But I've been looking at this one for awhile and decided to get it when I got some money. lol
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Moderator
 United States
23731 Posts |
Very nice. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4778 Posts |
Don't worry about it  If anything this shows we have similar tastes when it comes to ancient coins lol Edited by VisigothKing
12/03/2012 7:19 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
I always love seeing a great Carthage!  Few coins have such mystique. SNGCOP 169....maybe. SNGCOP 169 is of the one (1) pellet denomination. Yours is of the no pellet, unless its waay off flan. I personally think it is a different coin. The pellet is though to have something to do with denomination. Probably to accommodate the fact that coins where in such short supply and many of the same size had to be assigned different values. The names and values of denominations are not well understood. There is a great range in weight and diameter for coins and even coins of the same period. I wonder maybe these coins where used for different types of transactions. Interesting to say the least. Its a horse, a horse, a horse of course, Kudos to you GG... I personally love these coins and find them the most fascinating...a coin from a lost destroyed civilization. The Romans tried very hard to eradicate Punic culture. You hold the remnants.Kudos. I almost died when I held my BI Trid-drachm for the first time...I am sure you all could tell.  Well done! VK I told you I would have gave in and bought it when I saw it.... Edited by Ancientnoob
12/03/2012 10:31 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
There are a couple of theories as to why the horse was used. One elluding to the Pegasos story so favored by the Greeks they often paid. ( the Greeks need not see wings to know it was Pegasos) they were painted on Punic ships sorta as a logo or "the colors" like a skull and cross bones for Pirates. They were a sea faring culture, who ran trade from the Levant to Iberia, they wanted to be recongized.
The other theory is that the horse paid hommage to the Numidian calvary that was employed to often carry out Punic interest abroud. They were not an empire but rather a Confederation of different peoples with the same cultural belief and practice a common cause. So symbols in ancient times carried clout and this one - like few others.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
Thanks for the information, Ancientnoob.
Well, I hate to say it but this dealer has a lot of things wrong with his coins. Unfortunately, I don't have the SNGCOP reference books to know. If you know where I can get a electronic copy, or can figure it out for me it would be appreciated.
Oh yeah, I will be very happy once this coin arrives in the mail. The next Carthage coin I will be looking for is a full horse reverse and not the horse head, in AE of course. Can't afford AR or AV.
I think the Romans tried to eradicate the Punic culture because Carthage almost stopped the Roman Republic in it's early days. Can't be leaving a threat like that. lol
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
That's indeed a interesting theory about the horse symbol. Who really knows unless you can travel back in time.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1316 Posts |
Gil, another great coin, love the horse head... |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Punic AV=$5000, Punic AR=$3000, Punic deals Priceless...I had to settle for BI. I have 2 other Punic coins in the works, one I belive is lost in the mail and the other well you will have to wait and see...
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
 I also received this coin with the Marcus Agrippa today. I am very pleased with the coin and for the price as well. The flip I received has a price on it for $60. I certainly didn't pay that much. lol |
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Wow, I "Love" the horse-head => man, ya gotta love the animal coins!! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2044 Posts |
I know you love those animal coins. Maybe you could get a full Gallienus animal series set. lol
Later on in the future I plan on getting a couple other Carthage coins, one of them with the full horse.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
When seeking out my Carthage coins...I started with...
Horse Head
Then Horse Galloping
Then Horse Standing with Palms tree
Then Horse Prancing
Then Helmets
Then Palm trees
Then I finally got it...
The Flying Horse!!
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,615 |
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Posted 12/03/2012 7:06 pm
