CARTEIA, a maritime town of Hispania Baetica, near the Straits, formerly of Hercules, now of Gibraltar. Originally called Heraclea, after it 's reputed founder, Carteia was created a Roman colony by the Senate, in the year 583 (B.C. 171). It now lies in ruins near Algeziras, Andalusia.
The coins of this colony are Latin autonomes, in third brass. They are numerous, and identify themseves with the place by the legend CARTEIA on their reverses, many of which bear the names of the quatuorviri, who respectively caused them to be struck.
Mr. Ackerman, in his Coins of Ancient Cities (see p. 26, et seq.) has given a descriptive list of these from Florez, and Mionnet, adding some from the British Museum; others from Dr. J. Lee 's cabinet; and has engraved the two following, viz. : - Obv. CARTEIA. Turreted head. - Rev. - D.D. (Decreto Decurionum). Neptune standing, with his right foot placed on a rock, a dolphin in his right hand, and in his left a trident. The second exhibits a singular type. Rev. C. MINIVS. VIBI. IIIVIR. A figure seated on a rock, holding an angle, from which depends a fish; by his side, the basket with bait -- (see No. 1 and No. 7, plate iii.).
Other types of reverse present heads of Jupiter, Pallas, and Neptune, also the dolphin, prow of galley, Cupid on a dolphin, a caduceus, a thunderbolt, club, and bow and arrow. See Mionnet, Supplt. T. i. 21.