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Calabria, Tarentum
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Punic occupation half shekel
Nude youth on horseback to left, crowning horse with wreath; IΩ to right, ΣΩΓENHΣ below
Taras astride dolphin to left, holding cornucopiae and Nike who crowns him with wreath; TAPAΣ below.
Calabria, Tarentum ; Punic occupation, circa 212-209 BC
AR Reduced didrachm or Half-Shekel.
2.69g chipped otherwise VF+
Vlasto 975-7; HN Italy 1079; SNG France 2065; McGill II, 120 and Cote 591-93.
Ex-ANE
Rare!
The climax of the Carthaginian invasion of Italy was reached when Tarentum changed sides in 212 BC. The takeover of the city was a carefully planned coup by Hannibal and members of the city's democratic faction who opened the gates to Hannibal's army. The Carthaginians failed to take the citadel, but subsequent fortifications around this enemy stronghold enabled the city to remain under Punic control. Hannibal installed his own magistrates and struck coinage based on the Punic half shekel standard.
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