Bridled Horse

CNG 103, Lot: 89. Estimate $1000. Sold for $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CARTHAGE, Second Punic War. Circa 220-205 BC. EL Three-eighths Stater (14.5mm, 2.72 g, 12h). Carthage mint(?). Wreathed head of Tanit left / Horse standing right, wearing bridle. Jenkins & Lewis Group XV, 477; MAA 73; CNP 9. VF, hairline flan crack, a few pits. Extremely rare with bridled horse, only one in Jenkins & Lewis (in the BM), two in CoinArchives, and CNP notes one in Naples and one additional at auction.

As Jenkins & Lewis did not notice the bridle, and the obverse die was not linked to any other coin of Group XV, one wonders whether this represents merely a subgroup within XV, or whether these comprise a new issue, perhaps from another mint?