Entella, Sicily, imitation of an ancient Siculo-Punic issue struck ca. 320-300 BC., modern cast ca. 1950-2010 AD., “Tetradrachm“, cf. Jenkins 150 ff.
Entella, Sicily, imitation of an ancient Siculo-Punic issue struck ca. 320-300 BC., modern cast ca. 1950-2010 AD.,
“Tetradrachm“ (ø 35-38 mm / 30,86 g), white metal alloy, axes about coin alignment ↑↓ (ca. 160°), filed edge with big casting bubble, uneven surface, weak outlines,
Obv.: head of Arethusa facing to left, wearing a wreath of grain-ears, a triple-pendant earring and a necklace, four dolphins swimming around.
Rev.: horse’s head facing to left, a palm-tree behind, Punic legend (S’MMHNT = “People of the Campâ€) below.
For genuine coins cf. Jenkins, ‘Coins of Punic Sicily’, part 3, SNR 56, 1977, 150 ff.
genuine coins show about 25-28 mm ø and 16,6-17 g silver.
The location of the main Carthaginian mint in Sicily identified by Punic inscription as "The Camp" has long been a matter of conjecture and dispute. Recent research, adopted by Oliver Hoover in his Handbook of Coins of Sicily (CNG 2012), suggests the "Camp" mint to have been Entella, a fortress-like city located in central-west Sicily. The Siculo-Punic coinage of Entella seems to have been intended mainly to pay mercenary soldiers who were used to being paid in Greek coin, as the silver tetradrachms adhere closely to the Attic weight standard. Designs were usually based on the ubiquitous issues of Syracuse (obverse), but with reverses displaying their Carthaginian allegiance (the palm tree, phonix in Greek, is likely a canting pun on the term Phoenician). Horses also feature prominently, likely referring to the outstanding cavalry of the Carthaginians and their Campanian allies.