Carthage, The Libyan Revolt AR Silver Shekel. 241 - 238 BC. SNG Cop 239

ZEUGITANA. Carthage. Libyan Revolt. BI Shekel  

Obverse: Head of Herakles left, wearing lion's skin headdress;

Reverse: Lion walking right; Punic M above lion.

Weight: 7.55 gms

Minted: ca. 241-238 B.C.

Mint: Uncertain mint in Northern Africa.

Graded: NGC AU (about Uncirculated), Strike: 3/5 Surface: 4/5.

Reference: SNG Cop-239; MAA-53.

Notes: A rare type. Following its calamitous first war with the Roman Republic in 241 BC, the once-great Carthaginian Empire found itself subject to a crippling indemnity. Its massive mercenary army, anxious about their employer's ability to pay their wages, broke into open mutiny. The Libyan cities of the North African coast, long under the thumb of the Carthaginian state, seized the opportunity and joined the revolt. In the course of the war, the mutinous army overstruck circulating Carthaginian Shekels with these heavily Greek-inspired types. The conflict developed into a brutal war of attrition, with the Carthaginians ultimately putting down the rebels in 238 BC, but only at great cost to their strength and unity. The Carthaginian state never fully regained control over its military, and the empire now stood at an insurmountable disadvantage against the Romans in their future wars.