Sicily, Tetradrachm, ca. 330-305 BC
Lilybaion - Silver - NGC - Ch XF 4/5-3/5
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 Tanit / Arethusa (or Persephone) to right, wearing wreath of grain, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; around, three dolphins.
Charioteer driving galloping quadriga to left, holding kentron in his right hand and reins in his left; above, Nike flying right to crown the charioteer, ['RSMLQRT'] "Raš Melqart" in Punic script below.
Graded NGC Ch XF Strike: 4/5 Surface: 3/5. Splendid cabinet patina. The mint where this Silico-Punic tetradrachm was struck, also known as the ‘Raš Melqart’ (‘Cape of Melkart’) strike because of the inscription beneath the quadriga, is not certain. It is thought that the mint was in Lilybaion, an ancient Greek city founded by Rhodians and Cnidians. This Greek city on the western point of Sicily, whose name comes from the Greek ‘Lilýbaion’ meaning ‘Facing Libya’, came under Carthaginian control from 397 BC until 241 BC, when it was taken by the Romans after being besieged for 9 years. It is therefore quite possible that this superb specimen was struck in this city during Carthaginian rule, as it bears this Punic legend.
16.79 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.
