As the theatre of conflict shifted back toward the Carthaginian capital, the city’s coinage transformed. Struck in bronze and silver rather than gold, these issues reflect the high-stakes mobilisation of the Second Punic War. This bronze shekel, minted in the North African heartland between 203 and 201 BCE, captures the spirit of a civilisation that maintained its artistic identity even under the pressure of sustained struggle.
At the core of this necklace is a bronze shekel that carries a rare, intimate record of its own creation. On the obverse, the goddess Tanit appears in profile, wreathed in grain. A small circular indentation is visible on her cheek, just in front of the ear. This mark was left during the preparation of the blank, where the metal was held and centred before being struck. While such indentations were typically flattened by the force of the hammer, this one remains, offering a tactile connection to the ancient minting process over two millennia ago.
The reverse reveals an elegant horse with its head turned back and its neck curved inward. The stance is compact and controlled, a spirited image of Carthaginian identity that remained unbroken during the closing years of the war. The coin itself is distinguished by a dense, dark patina, a natural signature of its long history.
The design of the necklace is built on a play of contrasts. The deep, even tone of the ancient bronze is held within a frame of 18-carat rose gold and encircled by a ring of mother-of-pearl. This iridescent border creates a pale, diffused field of light that makes the dark, historical surface of the coin appear even more striking.
The bail is set with black diamonds, establishing a sharp vertical axis that echoes the blackened tones of the bronze. Suspended from a chain of blackened silver, the pendant is fully reversible, allowing the wearer to alternate between the serene profile of the goddess and the alert elegance of the horse. The piece is secured with a gold “S” clasp, a signature detail that completes the work.
Wearing the Zeugitana necklace is a way to touch the final chapters of a great empire. It is a design that celebrates the beauty found in the marks of making and the quiet strength of a culture that continued to find its form in the face of history.
