Some of you may have known about my long standing goal to acquire the great Punic coins of yesteryear. This was no small undertaking, it took months of selling, trading and hunting for just the right example at a palatable price. (It was not a palatable price, but rather quite sickening.) For a bottom feeder this meant climbing up the column to dangerous shark infested waters, but with no risk there is no reward.
Most are familiar with Carthage to some degree. Most are aware that Carthage was among the Roman Republic's most powerful and fierce enemies. Their history, art and literature are nearly non existent, tales of their brutality, greed and deceit are legendary, first recorded by the Greeks and then etched in stone by the Romans. Everyone knows that the history of the world is written by the winners and is often biased.
Recent and not so recent archaeological evidence suggests that indeed many of the tales of child sacrifice and taboo ritual was widly practiced with in the Domain of Carthage. Many sites through out Africa and Iberia, have been uncovered with what is a called a Tophet. The Tophet was essentially a deep firepit with the likeness of a god or goddess above it, in some cases Tanit or the Titan Uranus, with arms outstretched. It was discussed the book, "Carthage Must Be Destroyed" that often families would sacrifice a child to Tanit, or any number of other deities. Tophets have that have been excavated often produce human infant remains, as well as still birth fetuses and animals. One would have been able to sacrifice animals in lieu of children at a rate of 3-1, or one might be able to purchase a street child, if well to do. Such a horrible and taboo practice was not without it purpose. Most of the sacrifices appear to be still births or children that may have been born sickly or misshapen. Such acts also protected the distribution of wealth by limiting the number of heirs and as a form of population control. By the end of the 3rd Punic War, Carthage was hugely over populated and stories exist of Roman soldiers being able to enter the city by scaling the walls and easily descending on roof tops of houses butted up against the wall.
This coin, a mere electrum stater, according to Jenkins was worth a ration of 10-1 silver to electrum, during the reign of Agothekles. (@TIF post the tet). Making the coin a DEKA-Drachm. The Carthaginians largely borrowed coin designs from their Sicilian rivals, whom at the time produced some of the most beautiful specimens in the world. As far as coins are concerned Carthage was late on the scene, minting the first pieces sometime around BC 450 and ending with its destruction in BC 148. These coins were minted largely to pay mercenaries of various races and ethnicity fighting for control of Sicily and other locations in Magna Graecia.
This coin was minted right at the start of the silver debasement of the Gold Stater (at one time worth a ratio of 20-1, silver to gold, rapidly declining in gold fineness and artistic style, as economic pressures depleted the treasury and the gold had to be stretched farther and farther. The Electrum Staters started out at about 70% fine and over the next century decline to 30% and eventually was replaced by Silver, then Billon and finally all kinds of odd ball bronze denominations.(@TIF - ugh the 15 Shekel please.)
Carthage may have been destroyed their literature burned, the building razed and their people slaughtered, but still we may admire the coins. This coin baring the Head of Tanit, whom the Carthaginians worshiped as the goddess of fertility, was seen by the Greeks and Romans as Kore or Persephone the goddess of the Underworld and Vegetation.
Finally, I may cross my #1 most sought after dream coin off the list. Please post your best coins of Magna Graecia. Here is mine.
Africa, Zeugutana, Carthage
Anonymous (s. BC 310-290)
EL Dekadrachm (Stater)
18.5 mm x 7.27 grams
Obverse: Wreathed head of Tanit left, eleven pendants on necklace; pellet before neck
Reverse: Horse standing right; two pellets below exergue line
Ref:Jenkins & Lewis Group V, 259-79; MAA 10; SNG Copenhagen 975
Posted 05/14/2016 7:49 pm
