Head of Tanit l / gold coin

paradisepaddy

Hi all,

i'm not sure whether this is the correct forum but wondering if anybody could help me trace a period of time that a coin relates to. I've found a very close match I think through various google keywords searches and forums but you guys might have a better idea... i'm in possession of the gold piece. its quite possibly fake but the story behind it is somewhat exciting and i'd like to learn more about it

i'm just copying and pasting details from what i've found from an auction site:

Stack & Kroisos Collections
Auction date: 14 January 2008
Lot number: 2270
Price realized: 24,000 USD Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:

CARTHAGE. Zeugitania. Ca. 270-264 B.C.
Gold Attic Tridrachm or 1½ Shekel. Head of Tanit l. wearing grain wreath, triple-drop earring and necklace with pendants. Rv. Horse standing r., head turned, on single exergual line. 12.47 grams. Jenkins & Lewis Group IX.382-2. Well-centered. Superb Extremely Fine. (15,000-20,000)
Jenkins and Lewis note that Group IX, to which the above coin belongs, was struck shortly before the outbreak of the First Punic War against Rome. In addition to fundamental differences in race, culture and religion, the basic underlying cause of the war was that both sides wanted control of Sicily. Carthage had long recognized the importance of Sicily for the control of trade in the western Mediterranean and had been actively campaigning on the island for well over two hundred years. Rome, on the other hand, had gradually come to see itself as the protector of the Greek cities of southern Italy, who viewed with alarm Carthaginian claims of a monopoly over trade in the waters of the western Mediterranean. The proximate cause of the war was a crisis in the city of Messana, which commanded the straits between Italy and Sicily. A band of Campanian mercenaries had established itself by force in the town of Messana and was being hard pressed in 264 B.C. by Hieron II of Syracuse. The Campanians appealed to both Carthage and Rome for help. Carthage responded first, occupying the town and effecting a reconciliation with Hieron. Undeterred, the Roman commander brought his troops into the city, seized the Carthaginian admiral and induced him to withdraw his garrison. This act of agression was met by a declaration of war from Carthage and Syracuse.
From the Lawrence R. Stack Collection of Ancient Greek Coins

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Wibbs

Along with other things I used to collect antiquities when they came up*runs from some archaeologists hereabouts*:) Small everyday out of context old collection type stuff. Back when I did(about 15 yrs back) the stuff was cheap, remarkably so, as great age wasnt such a big deal it seems. Plus it was very common. Certain items made of certain materials lasts a very very long time and many were made in huge numbers. Put it this way, how many mugs have you got in your kitchen cupboard? Unless you take a hammer to ceramics they will last for eons. Coins are also one of those things, though not of interest to me personally.

The problem is now with the increased interest and the internet especially ebay, there are a lot of fakes about. There are very very very few ebayers I'd consider legit, with all the legal permits and provenance attached. I used to collect old(now classic/vintage) watches and there is large scale fakery going on there. Now a watch is a pretty damn complex thing to rip off and some are very good fakes, so antiquities for the most part are so much easier to fake. The big auction houses and indeed some archaeologists themselves have been duped.

Gold items in one way are easier than most, but at the same time gold being so expensive isnt the usual route for the fakers.

TL;DR? 1) avoid ebay in 99.99999 % of cases. 2) If it looks too good to be true it is. 3) examine why you want to possess such an object. Is it an ego thing? Is it something else? If it's a genuine reason to hold something of great age in your hand then I say OK. If it has little cultural/scientific value. If it's legal and legit(pref from an old collection). Better yet if you can use it still. I once bought an ex girlfriend a pair of 3rd century roman ear rings from an old collection at auction. I found out years after we split that she still wears and values them. That IMHO is OK. Sticking it in a drawer for personal viewing not so much.

paradisepaddy

Thanks Wibbs. Sounds like you've had a few glasses of wine. .........

I'm not intent on buying such an item, its mine already. It has been sitting in a drawer for years and only after a little spring clean decided to look into its possible history / origin.

As a 'so called favour' to an old acquaintance I purchased it from him after he came back skint from holidays in Tunisia for a very small price. He built the story up quite a lot saying that a person (underpaid worker) working in mines or something like that gave him the coin quickly and without anyone else seeing so figurered asking price was well worth the mystery of not knowing whether it was fake or real.

he mentioned that one of his other friends had one and sold it for over 1.5k.......

now i'm not naive but as I said, the mystery of it and of course its weight/goldness and beauty was what bought it for me.

Anyways back to main question, do you think the coin was from this period oif Tanit or am I years out (being stamped out in some little dudes garage 10 years ago ).

cheers again in advance.

PP

Wibbs

I dunno, maybe try the http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=394 collectibles and antiques forum? They might give you a better idea or tell you where to go to get an appraisal. From what I can see in your photos it's not in great condition and AFAIK the coin collectors are all about that. It looks pocked and corroded in a way which would make me suspicious with a gold piece. Like I say you need expert help on this.

paradisepaddy

Wibbs wrote: »

I dunno, maybe try the http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=394 collectibles and antiques forum? They might give you a better idea or tell you where to go to get an appraisal. From what I can see in your photos it's not in great condition and AFAIK the coin collectors are all about that. It looks pocked and corroded in a way which would make me suspicious with a gold piece. Like I say you need expert help on this.

Ahhh. I should have put it in this forum first. Mods please feel free to move this post.

thanks again Wibbs. i'll follow up there . Cheers.

PP