209-205 BCE
Ancient Spain, Ae unit 29mm 9,59g
Roman occupation after 209 BCE
Obv: Bare-head left Scipio Africanus
Rev: horse standing right, palm tree behind
CNH Class II 282; SNG BM Spain 127-128; ACIP 609; Villaronga pg 72,69;Burgos 425
Ex El Iberico Collection
Carthago Nova became the modern city of Cartagena, Spain. Originally a Tartessian Confederation city named Mastia, it was renamed in 228 BCE by Hasdrubal to Qart Hadasht, which literally meant “New City”. This was the same name as Carthage, and hence it became known in Latin as Carthago Nova or “New Carthage”, which became its official name when it was conquered in 209 BCE by Scipio Africanus.
Julius Caesar eventually gave the city Latin rights and Octavian renamed it yet again to a typically long Roman name that everyone soon forgot. When Diocletian created the province of Carthaginensis, Carthago Nova became its capital. Then we can yada yada through the Byzantine, Middle Ages, and modern Spain to get to today’s Cartagena.
This is my first Spanish coin and was a gift for Saturnalia.
Carthage renews its treaty with Rome, reinforcing agreements on trade and territorial boundaries. Mastia is mentioned.
Hasdrubal of Carthage renames Mastia to Qart Hadasht, or “New City”.
Scipio Africanus conquers Qart Hadasht and renames it to Carthago Nova.
Diocletian creates a new province named Hispania Carthaginensis and sets Carthago Nova as its capital.
Carthago Nova is sacked by the Vandals.