Numismatic analysis incorporates legal frameworks to trace illegally traded Carthaginian coins

In a study published in the journal Libyan Studies, Professor Håkon Roland and Dr. Paolo Visonà examined the 2022 case dealing with the seizure of 30 Punic bronze coins by Norwegian authorities.

The coins, which were allegedly part of a 200 kg hoard, were analyzed and determined to likely have originated in Carthage towards the end of the Second Punic War (218–201 BC).

The study examines the legal frameworks surrounding cultural heritage crime and provides insights into the recent flourishing of the illicit antiquities trade.

The 30 Punic coins that were seized from a Tunisian seller in Oslo in March 2022 had been initially offered to a coin dealer located in Oslo. The seller had provided the coin dealer with photographs and videos showing massive quantities of corroded coins being loaded into a van.

Recognizing the suspicious nature of the coins, the coin dealer contacted the Oslo Police, who in turn requested assistance from the Museum of Cultural History at the University of Oslo. After the successful seizure, Norway’s Ministry of Culture coordinated their repatriation to Tunisia.

Unsurprisingly, the seller never revealed the specifics regarding the findspot, and to date, no one knows exactly where the hoard was located. The quantity and corrosion level suggest that the coins had likely originated from a shipwreck or a submerged coastal structure.

The coins came in two denominations: 24 larger, heavier pieces and six smaller ones, all featuring the image of the goddess Tanit on one side and a horse before a palm tree on the other. The similar artistic style, wear patterns, and the goddess’s hairstyle matching billon coins from the late Second Punic War indicated that the coins were likely all created by the same Carthaginian mint, likely during the Second Punic War.

From the limited archaeological examples of similar coins, it seems these coins’ circulation was largely limited to North Africa, with only a few examples having been found in Europe, including Dalmatia, Menorca, and Croatia.

The coins seem to have ceased circulation by 205 BC. After the Second Punic War, only poor-quality coins (shekels) were issued in an effort to finance military operations.

The seized coins were likely valued more due to their relatively good condition, weight, and metallic content. From similar examples with traces of silvery surfaces, it is speculated that these coins may have initially been issued as billon. If so, Gresham’s Law (where valuable money is saved and less valuable money is circulated) would explain their absence from the archaeological record of most Tunisian sites.

Despite limited archaeological documentation, these coins are far from rare, with many of them having flooded the market in recent decades. Coins are particularly vulnerable to illicit trade as they can be easily found with metal detectors and easily trafficked due to their portability.

“The spike in sales of Carthaginian and other coins (specifically: Illyrian coins, e.g. of Ballaios) since the 1980s can be attributed to multiple interrelated factors, including regime changes, the unregulated and increased use of metal detectors, lack of ad hoc legislation, increased opportunities for criminal activities due to open borders across multiple European countries, and corruption at various levels of law enforcement agencies in areas of Europe and North Africa,” explains Prof. Roland.

Similarly, modern platforms such as eBay, social media, private websites, WhatsApp, and Telegram have made it easier to find interested buyers, organize sales, and extend the market beyond the elite collectors.

Trafficked items are difficult to trace, and their contexts become muddled. “One cannot assume that information on the provenience of the coins provided by coin dealers would be credible, particularly if the coins were acquired under dubious circumstances,” Prof. Roland cautions. “Coin dealers (and other such dealers, to be fair) are careful not to self-incriminate. Ditto for coin collectors.”

Professor Roland emphasizes the importance of public awareness: “We are actively working to raise public awareness on the trade and trafficking in cultural heritage property. The general public should be aware that there is an extensive international trade in looted cultural artifacts.

“Regions affected by war, conflict, and social unrest are particularly vulnerable to looting and smuggling of such objects, and organizations such as Interpol, the WCO, UNESCO, ICOM, and Blue Shield are increasingly focused on these issues.

“Provenance information for objects offered for sale is often incomplete or fabricated, and it can be extremely difficult to distinguish between legal and illicit artifacts. Private individuals who wish to purchase an object should ask themselves where it originally comes from, whether it is subject to export restrictions in the country of origin, and, if so, whether an export permit exists.”

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