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NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: DECEMBER 1, 2019Here's a selection of interesting or unusual items I came across in the marketplace this week. Tell us what you think of some of these. -Editor
Sicily, Siculo-Punic Silver Tetradrachm 
Sicily, Siculo-Punic (c. 320-300 BC)
Obverse: Head of Tanit-Persephone facing left, surrounded by three dolphins. Reverse: Horse's head facing left, palm tree with two clusters of dates behind, Punic legend ‘MMHNT' below. This impressive silver tetradrachm was probably struck at the Siculo-Punic mint of Entella, and bears the inscription ‘MMHNT', translating to ‘People of the Camp', implying these coins were issued to pay troops fighting for Carthage. These tetradrachms coincide with a period of turmoil in Sicily, stemming from the assault of Agathokles, the Tyrant of Syracuse, on Carthaginian territories in 311 BC. Carthage responded with a massive military campaign and took back almost all the island by 310 BC, eventually laying siege to Syracuse. As a last resort Agathokles launched a counterattack on the city of Carthage itself (a tactic the Romans would use to great effect during the Second Punic War a century later). In a foreshadowing of history, the Carthaginians were forced pull back their army to defend the homeland, but in this case, they were successful. Agathokles retreated to Sicily with a bloody nose in 307 BC, and after peace treaties, permitted to keep control over Syracuse.
Nice horsie. Usually they are seen beneath a rider or in front of a vehicle. It's not often you see a full portrait of a horse's head on a coin. From Baldwin's. -Editor
To read the complete item description, see:
1622 Ferdinands II Reichstaler 
Reichstaler (32 shillings) 1622, with title Ferdinands II. 29.57 g. Dav. 5466; Mader 499d. Of great rarity. Fine patina, small Schrötlingsriss, very nice + With reference to the coin reform (with PFD).
From the upcoming Fritz Rudolf Künker sale. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
"Sign Of The 8" Civil War Token 
348 - OH935C-1a R5 Raw MS64 30% Red. Wm. Preston Cheap Cash Store, Wilmington Ohio with Sign Of The 8 reverse die 1347. A NGC MS63 RB sold for $565 in our January 2015 sale. (500-750)
Unusual obverse design - "sign of the 8". I wonder what that meant. From the upcoming Steve Hayden sale. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Numismatic Convention Badges & Ribbons
Great numismatic history and a popular collectible. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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