Looks very much like the "frogs" on
Italian cast bronzes. The "
roman republican" pieces have two possible candidates (not strictly
Roman but definitely related).
1. Tudor (modern Todi in
Umbria)
Obv. Frog;
Rev. Tortoise and dot (
uncia);
weight between 12 and 17 grams. T&V 163,
Sydenham 'Aes Grave' 217.
2. Luceria,
Apulia (modern Lucera in Puglia)
Obv. Toad (or Frog?, I can't tell the difference);
Rev. Wheatsheaf and dot (
uncia);
weight between 6 and 15 grams. T&V 285,
Sydenham 'Aes Grave' 142.
Based on the size, these are the only two "
roman" candidates.
T&V put the dates to 270-260 for the Tuder piece and 269-225 for the Luceria piece. Both are probably later based on the
weight and some other arguments I won't go into; probably getting down to the period just before and after the start of Hannibal's 'Grand Tour'.
Can't
help with the Greek connection; not my
area. Did look up the books but no reference to Greek
cast with Frog.
