Attached is a 1/2
shekel coin which is listed in
Mazard #78, Mueller II 38,45,
Weber 8539 pl 315, SG 6602 for kings of
Numidia, Hiempsal II from around 106-60 BC. These were old attributions and seem to be outdated. Recent examples for sale now indicate it as
Carthage in
Sicily, Second Punic War, about 213-211 BC occupation
Walker,
Burnett Enna 140-1,
SNR 62(1983) 148-52,
SNG Copenhagen 380. They recent listings question
Akragas as the city. They also list the
obverse head as
Triptolemos while others reference Hiempsal II. Anyone have an idea when this coin was really struck and who it is? The
style and Punic letters point to influence from
Carthage. Was it struck in
Sicily or
Carthage? I have asked one dealer for
help and he indicated it is open for debate. Can anyone point me to a recent article on the study of these coins?
