Sicily. Panormos (as Ziz). Siculo-Punic Coinage, circa 330-320 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 22.65 mm, 17.08 g). Charioteer driving quadriga galloping right on double exergue line, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying left, crowning him; in exergue, two dolphins; border of dots. Rev. Female head of nymph (or Tanit-Arethusa) left, wearing ampyx in hair, triple pendant earring and pearl necklace; no dolphins around; all within shallow circular incuse. Jenkins, SNR 50 (1971), pl. 12, 57 (O16/R46, this coin illustrated) = Viola CNP 300 (but not illustrated). Cf. HGC 2, 1020. Wonderful old cabinet tone. Slightly off-center on reverse and thin ancient scratch on the nymph's face, otherwise, Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare Variant (only one example known from this die pair). The only reference of Jenkins is in the Sambon-Canessa auction of 27-30 June 1927, lot 1144 (the coin for sale). Our search for this pair of dies in the consulted bibliography did not produce any further positive results.

Ex Astarte V, 28 October 1999, lot 303; Sambon & Canessa, 27-30 June 1927, lot 1144.

In the Jenkins cataloging, the obverse O16 of number 57 has no legend (sys) but only symbol two dolphins, while the reverse (off-center), does not appear to have any dolphin around it.