3937) Roman Empire - Hannibal, Liberia: The Battle of Zama, 202 BC: A $50 5-oz Silver Ultra High Relief Antiqued Coin issued by Liberia: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2025:
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This $50 legal-tender coin was released on behalf of Liberia, a West African nation and comes beautifully housed in stylish presentation box and accompanied be a Certificate of Authenticity (COA).
Hannibal, Scipio, And The Battle That Gave Birth To The Roman Empire:
Excerpted for "THE ART OF WAR by SUN XU - ILLUSTRATED" (a book in my personal Library:
"After the Romans suffered disastrous defeats at the hands of Hannibal's Carthagians at the Battles of lake Trasimenea and Cannae, the second Punic War dragged on without either side being able to achiene final victory.
Hannibal could not take Rome itself, and the Romans could not drive the Carthagians out of Italy. The deliberate delaying tactics of Fabius served Rome well for thirteen years harassing Hannibal without confronting him in a major battle."
The Consul Scipio, his prestige much enhanced by his victories against the carthagians in Spain, wanted a direct invasion of africa (present day Tunisia) with the capital of Carthage as the target as this would have ended the war.
Many in the roman senate argued that such a bold course was too dangerous, although some senators supported the idea.
As Rome hadf control of the Sea it was considered to be an advantage for the Romans.
Scipio also gained the support of some 7,000 veteral volunteers who joined the forces he was gathering in Sicily. The Senate finally authorised Scipio's military action.
The Roman Army included the remnants of the 5th and 6th Legions, survivors of Cannae. Vital to the Roman prospects in Africa was the new alliance wsith Numidian Chief Massinissa, as the Numidians had formerly been allied with Carthage. The Numidians were excellent light cavalry and Massinissa joi ned forces with Scipio when the Romans arrived in Africa in 203 BC.This represented an augmentation of about 4,000 first rate horsemen.
Scipio's army moved quickly from the coast and won the Battle of the Great Plains.
Meanwhile, Hannibal gathered his forces:
With the threat to Carthage imminent, Hannibal was urgently recalled from Italy with as man y troops he could bring.
Meanwhile, the Carthgians hastily raised an army of new recruits and mercenaries. A force of 80 war elephants was quickly organised.
The opposing artmies met at Zama in 202 BC (in October). Hannibal's army had over 40,000 men and had a numerical advantage over Scipio who had about 35,000 troops.
One advantage Scipio had was in cavalry where he had about 6,100 good horsemen, including the Romans and Numidians compared toi Hannibal's cavalry of about 4,000 horsemen which included some Numidians loyal to him.
Each side organised its infantry in three main lines, with cavalry on the flanks.
Hannibal placed his mercenary infantry in the first line, his new Carthagian recruits in the second line and his veteran troops in the third line as a reserve.
The three main lines of Roman infantry was standard practice at the time with "hastati" (soldiers forming the first line of battle) "principe" (a crucial part of heavy infantry serving as a second line of defence behind the "hastati") in the second, and heavy "triarii" (veteran or old soldiers) as a reserve, Light infantry "velites" (or light infantry) formed a screen in front of these three main lines.
Hannibal placed his 80 elephants in fron of the main lines, with orders to attack and disorder the Roman formations. Some of the elephans unfortunately for Hannibal panicked by Roman trumpets ran in the wrong direction, right into the Carthagian cavalry on Hannibal's left.
Massinissa with his oen Numidian cavalry opposing Hannibal's left, took this opportunity to charge and repulse the Carthagian cavalry, pursuing them from the field.
The rest of the elephants vharged the Roman lines, but Scipio had anticipated this attack.
The Roman "velites" purposefully screened gaps between Scipio's maniple formations, and then fell back into the gaps, leading the elephants to charge in between Roman formations. The elephants and riders found themselves shoals successfully attacked Hawered by javelins and pila from all sides, as the Romans sealed off the gaps before any other Carthagicould come to their aid. Akey component of Carthagian force had been neutralised and eliminated.
Meanwhile, the Roman cavalry on Scipio's left also successfully attacked Hannibal's cavalry and purseud them from the field, as Massinissa had done on the other flank.
This left the Carthagian infiantry to fight out the battle in the centre of the field.
This was a fierce fight - the Romans, although somewhat outnumb ered, had an advantage of a higher percentage of veteran troops, while the Carthagian's relied heavily on mercenaries and new recruits.
Both generals skilfully kept their reserves in hand until the first two Carthagian lines had been driven back. A lull in the battle followed, as Han nibal rallied his first two lin es, placing them on his flanks, with his veteran reserves moved into the centreof his reformed lines.
This would have dangerously overlapped Scipio's lines, but Scipio moved his reserves to his own flanks, effectively countering Hannibal.
A decisive victory:
With battle between opposing infantry forces rejoined, Massinissa with his Numidians, along with Roman cavalry, suddenly returned to the main field behind Hannibal's lines. Hannibal's hard-pressed infintry cracked under the pressure of being attacke front and rear.
The battle quickly turned into a decisive victory for the Romans, with the Carthagians being routed.
The Beginning Of Rome’s Dominance In The Western Mediterranean:
The Battle of Zama was a decisive Roman victory led by Roman General Scipio that effectively ended both Hannibal’s command of Carthaginian forces as well as Carthage’s chances to significantly oppose Rome.
Its military power shattered, Carthage was forced to surrender to harsh Roman terms that saw the once-great empire cede Spain to Rome and pay a heavy indemnity—all of which solidified Rome’s dominance in the western Mediterranean for the next 600 years.
In retrospect:
Imagine being a Roman soldier in 202 BC at the Battle of Zama when massive war elephants thundered through their ranks. Many of these men had probably never even heard of such a beast, much less seen one before!
The terrifying charge shattered the line, trampled soldiers, and sent waves of panic through Roman forces struggling to regroup as the overwhelming force of nature bore down on them.
Roman forces DID respond, however, as light infantry units met the elephants with javelins, causing them to turn back, and thus ended the plans Carthaginian general Hannibal had for a decisive victory over Rome.
That final climatic battle in the Second Punic War is captured in all its glory on this colossal five-ounce silver coin, the first release in the new Roman Empire Collection!
The Coin:
The Obverse of the $50 (Fifty Dollars) Coin shows Carthaginian general Hannibal facing Roman general Scipio along with the coin’s face value, year date, and the name of the issuing country.
Ultra High Relief Combines With A Unique Antique Finish:
- Struck in five ounces of highly pure 99.9% fine silver, the designs are even more dramatic thanks to impressive Ultra High Relief (UHR) detail that allows the images to tower above the coin’s surface.
- And to make the designs even more dramatic, each coin has been given a lavish antique finish that adds even more depth and dimension to the already fantastic tableau being played out on this numismatic masterpiece.
- Typically applied by hand, this antique finish means that no two coins are exactly alike!
The Presentation Box/Case - open with the Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
- Only 500 of these 2025 Liberia $50 Five-Ounce Silver Roman Empire – Battle of Zama Ultra High Relief Antiqued Coins have been minted.
COIN HIGHLIGHTS:
FIRST RELEASE IN NEW ROMAN EMPIRE COLLECTION – This coin is the first release in the new Roman Empire series and features a dramatic scene from the famous Battle of Zama. The reverse design shows Carthaginian general Hannibal facing Roman general Scipio along with the coin’s face value, year date, and the name of the issuing country.
EXTRAORDINARY ULTRA HIGH RELIEF – These coins were struck with impressive Ultra High Relief (UHR) detail that allows their designs to tower above their surfaces.
STUCK IN HIGHLY PURE SILVER – Each Roman Empire – Battle of Zama Ultra High Relief Coin was struck in five Troy ounces of highly pure 99.9% fine silver and measures 60 mm in diameter.
LEGAL-TENDER COIN – These 2025-dated Five-Ounce Silver Roman Empire – Battle of Zama Ultra High Relief Coins are $50 legal tender in Liberia, a West African nation whose constitution and flag are modeled after the United States.
UNIQUE ANTIQUE FINISH – This 2025 Liberia $50 Five-Ounce Silver Roman Empire – Battle of Zama Ultra High Relief Coin comes with a unique antique finish. Typically applied by hand, this finish means that no two coins are exactly alike.
EXCEPTIONALLY LOW WORLDWIDE MINTAGE – Just 500 of these 2025 Liberia $50 Five-Ounce Silver Roman Empire – Battle of Zama Ultra High Relief Antiqued Coins have been authorized for worldwide release.
Feel the terror-inspiring moment when Carthaginian general Hannibal attacked the Roman army with elephants with this limited-edition 2025 Liberia $50 Five-Ounce Silver Roman Empire – Battle of Zama Ultra High Relief Antiqued Coin!
The specifications of this Coin are:
Year of Issue: 2025; Country: Liberia; Metal Com position: .999 Fineness Silver (Ag); Coin Quality: Antique Finish (AF), High Relief; Denomination: $ 50.00 (Fifty Dollars); Coin Weight: 160 Grams - g or 5 Ounces - oz; Miontage: 500 pieces.
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Rajan Trikha has commented:
ReplyDelete"Wonderful post 👍"
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DeleteRaj K Singh has commented:
ReplyDelete"Rajeev, A stray thought...All this information meticulously gathered over the years, could benefit schools spice up their syllabus. My tuppence!"
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DeleteSantosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing."
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Delete