SICILY. Lilybaion (as ‘Cape of Melkart’). Circa 330-305 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 17.24 g, 12 h). 𐤓𐤔𐤌𐤋𐤒𐤓𐤕 ('RŠMLQRT' in Punic) Charioteer driving quadriga galloping to right, holding kentron in his right hand and reins in his left; above, Nike flying left, crowning the charioteer with a wreath. Rev. Head of Tanit-Persephone to right, wearing wreath of grain leaves, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; around, four dolphins. Jameson 598 (same dies). Jenkins, Punic, 47 (O16/R36). SNG ANS 731 (same dies). SNG Lloyd 1600 (same dies). Boldly struck in high relief on sound metal. A wonderful piece with lovely iridescent toning and an exceptionally sharp and fresh reverse. Struck from a slightly worn obverse die, otherwise, good extremely fine.


After the destruction of Motya by Dionysios of Syracuse in 397 BC, the Carthaginians founded a new settlement with Lilybaion just a few kilometers south of it. Conceived as an impregnable fortress city from the outset, the Lilybaion was situated on the westernmost point of Sicily on a peninsula, thus controlling the Strait of Sicily. Africa was so close that sharp eyes from the mountain range behind the city could allegedly not only observe the departure of a fleet from the 140 kilometers-distant Carthage but even count the number of ships setting sail. Lilybaion, also known as the 'Cape of Melqart' (as the name on our coin suggests), was never conquered and only fell to the Romans in 241 BC with the end of the First Punic War through diplomatic means, after they had previously unsuccessfully besieged the city for nine years.