Carthaginian Sicily, Tetradrachm, ca. 350-320 BC
Sicilian Mint - Silver
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; four dolphins swimming around, three turned inward, the one below the neck truncation outwards.
Horse leaping or prancing left; palm tree in central background.
Magnificent Siculo-Punic tetradrachm with an extremely rare type and a scratch before the forelegs on the reverse. It is adorned with a magnificent golden patina around the reliefs. This coin belongs to the Jenkis 2d series, and was produced at the very end of the series, with R127 as the last reverse identified in the mintage of the series, around 320 BC. The horse is engraved in a very different way compared to the earlier reverses associated with O46, with his head facing forward, whereas on the earlier ones, his head is looking downwards at the ground, sticking to his collar. With a less pronounced gallop than the previous ones, it is very recognizable among the series of reverses associated with O46. The engraving is highly skilled and precise, especially the palm tree, whose leaves have superb details. Finally, the most remarkable aspect of this coin is the obverse with its four perfectly visible dolphins. It is extremely rare to find all four of them on thoses types with the divinity crowned with a wreath of grain ears. The rare examples with this characteristic are highly sought-after by collectors and even more so when the coin is adorned with a splendid golden patina, as on this example. Jenkins, Punic, Part 3, Serie 2d, 141 (O46/R127); CNP 214; HGC 2, 283; SNG Fitzwilliam 1477 = Weber 1773 (same obv. die); SNG Lockett 1036 = Locker-Lampson 115 (same obv. die); Boston MFA 489 (same obv. die); Gulbenkian 365 (same obv. die); de Luynes 1434 (same dies) and SNG France 2358-59 (same dies). Ex Vinchon, 17 November 1990, lot 9. Faune d'Argent Collection.
17.06 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
