|
|
Arpi, Apulia325-275 BC
AE20 (20mm, 7.07g)
O: Laureate head of Zeus left; [thunderbolt] behind.
R: Kalydonian boar running right; spearhead above, [Α]ΡΠΑΝ[ΟΥ] below.
SNG ANS 639; SNG Cop 605; HN Italy 642; Sear 569; BMC 1, 4
ex Andre C
Situated about 20 miles inland from the Adriatic Sea, Arpi was an ancient city which legend tells us was founded by the hero Diomedes. Arpi allied with Rome at the end of the 4th century BC, and supplied them with infantry and cavalry in the war against Pyrrhus.
After the annihilation of the Roman army at Cannae in 216 Arpi defected to the Carthaginian cause, and Hannibal made the city his winter headquarters in 215. However upon his departure to move his army south the Roman consul Quintus Fabius Maximus retook the city in 213, and Arpi never again regained its’ former importance.
Enodia
|
|
Arpi, Apulia 275-250 BC
AE 26 (21x26mm, 6.28g)
O: Horse galloping right; APΠI / NOY above and below.
R: Bull butting right.
SNG ANS 644; SNG Cop 608; HGC I, 535; Sear 570; HN Italy 645
ex Marc Breitsprecher
Enodia
|
|
Cales, Campania265-240 BC
AE 22 (22mm, 6.32g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, all within dotted border.
R: Cock standing right, star behind; CALENΩ downward to right, all within dotted border.
Sambon 916; HN Italy 435; SNG ANS 188; SNG Cop 322; Sear 548
ex Forvm Ancient Coins
This very common type, with Athena left and the cock/star reverse, was minted throughout the region, including Cales, Suessa Aurunca, Teanum Sinicinum in Campania and Aquinum in Latium, with only the ethnic varying. Speculation is that this suggests a monetary alliance between the various cities, but given the history of Campanian coining I wonder if a common mint may have produced them all, as we have seen with the MFB coins of Nola, Hyria and Neapolis?
Enodia
|
|
Herakleia, Lucania281-278 BC
AR Drachm (16.5mm, 3.82g)
O: Head of Athena, three-quarters facing right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Scylla throwing stone; Φ behind.
R: Owl with wings closed, standing right on olive branch; club to right, |-HPAKΛEIΩN above, ΣΩΣI to left.
Van Keuren 114; HGC I, 999; HN Italy 1411
Scarce
ex NAC
The colony of Herakleia was a joint venture between the cities of Taras and Thurii, founded in 432 BC and intended to encourage peace between the two embattled polis’ and show a united front against the indigenous tribes of southern Italy. To this end Herakleia became the center of the newly formed Italiote League, probably around 380. This alliance consisted of emissaries from the Greek cities of Kroton, Metapontum, Velia, Thurii, and most notably Taras.
A century later, the period of this coin, Pyrrhus defeated the Roman Consul Laevinius near here, causing the Romans to try a different strategy. A political treaty was struck in 278, granting very favorable terms to the Greek city, and Herakleia became an ally of Rome. As a result the headquarters of the Italiote League was moved to Taras.Enodia
|
|
Herakleia, Lucania330/25 - 281 BC
AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.55g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone; K to right.
R: Herakles standing facing, holding club in right hand and bow in left, lion's skin draped over left arm, Nike crowning from above; AΛ to left, Σ to right.
Van Keuren 80; SNG ANS 68; Hands Period II, 6; HGC I, 981; HN Italy1383
ex Ancient Art and Treasures
Although not rare, this obverse more typically has the Herakles strangling the Nemean lion reverse, while this Herakles standing reverse is usually paired with a Corinthian helmeted Athena. In fact many attributions incorrectly refer to the Corinthian type, as this coin was.
The 'K' in front of Athena (a bit distorted here) may be the signature of Kleudoros, a master engraver in southern Italy at this period. Although I can find no solid verification of this, a comparison of the artistic style of this Athena with those of the didrachms of Velia seem to show a similarity.
A classic example of Magna Graecian numismatic art, imo.Enodia
|
|
Hyria, Campania400-335 BC
AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.33g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing wreathed Attic helmet decorated with an owl.
R: Man-headed bull walking right; YDIN[A] above.
Rutter 69 (O32/R??); SNG ANS 255; HGC I, 435; HN Italy 539; Sear 294v (bull left)
ex Den of Antiquity
An historically obscure city in southern Campania, Hyria may have been located approximately 25 miles east of Mt. Vesuvius. It's site was likely an old Samnite settlement, and in fact the ethnic on the reverse of these didrachms is often inscribed in Oscan.
However Imhoof-Blumer believed that these coins, along with those of neighboring Nola, may actually have been struck at Neapolis. This is suggested by die comparisons, and the man-headed bull device seemingly adds weight to the argument.Enodia
|
|
Kaulonia, Bruttium475-425 BC
AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.82g)
O: Apollo, nude, walking right, holding branch in raised right arm; small daimon running on outstretched left arm; stag standing right in field to right, head reverted, KAVΛ (retrograde) to left.
R: Stag standing right, laurel branch to right; KAV (retrograde) above.
Noe, Caulonia, Group F. cf 97; HN Italy 2046; Sear 462
ex NB Numismatics
Enodia
|
|
Kroton, Bruttium480-430 BC
AR Stater (20mm, 7.57g)
O: Tripod-lebes with lion's feet; heron standing right in left field, QPO to right, lemniscate serpents in ex.
R: Tripod-lebes incuse, with dentate border.
SNG ANS 312; SNG Cop 1764v
ex Tom Vossen Enodia
|
|
Kroton, Bruttium525-425 BC
AR Triobol (11mm, 1.25g)
O: Tripod with lion‘s feet, within dotted border; QPO (retrograde) to left.
R: Pegasos with curled wings flying left; Q below.
SNG ANS 323-6; HN Italy 2127; Sear 468; Hands Class V, 3v (ethnic to right)
From the Frank James collection; ex CNG; ex Roma Auctions
Enodia
|
|
Kroton, Bruttium 300-250 BC
AE13 (13mm, 2.03g)
O: Octopus
R: Scallop shell
Vlasto 1855; SNG Cop 1089; HN Italy 1095 (as Taras); SNG ANS 447 (as Kroton); HN Italy 2240 (as Kroton)
Rare
ex Bertolami Fine Arts
A very rare and enigmatic coin with conflicted attributions.
SNG Copenhagen places this coin at Taras, as does Vlasto, although Vlasto puts it under the heading "Bronze Coins Doubtfully Attributed to Tarentum" and claims Kroton as a probable alternative.
SNG ANS gives it clearly to Kroton, while HN Italy seems to attribute both cities with varying catalog numbers.
I believe this coin is likely from Kroton as this city-state often used the octopus as a common device.Enodia
|
|
Metapontum, Lucania430-400 BC
AR Obol (7.6mm, 0.38g)
O: Beardless head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress.
R: Barley ear of five grains.
Noe 365.1; HN Italy 1506
Scarce
ex Forvm Ancient Coins
About 480 BC the city magistrates of Metapontum desired to make a change to their coinage, which up until that time depicted only the ear of grain.
This coin symbolizes the legend of Herakles and the Oxen of Geryon which, according to Diodorus Siculus (circa 1st century AD), were brought by the Hero to Metapontum from the west.
Ένα πολύ ιδιαίτερο ευχαριστώ για την καλή Νίκο μου φίλο.Enodia
|
|
Metapontum, Lucania300-250 BC
AE16 (16mm, 3.09g)
O: Veiled head of Demeter right, wearing stephane.
R: Ear of barley; long leaf with VE monogram above to left, MET[A] to right.
Johnston 57; SNG ANS 573; SNG Cop 1259; HN Italy 1693
ex Praefectus Coins
“They found the illustrious goddess sitting near the road, just the way
they had left her. Then they led her to the palace of their father.
She was walking behind them, sad in her heart.
She was wearing a veil on her head, and a long dark robe
trailed around the delicate feet of the goddess.”
~ Homeric Hymn to DemeterEnodia
|
|
Metapontum, Lucania330-300 BC
AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.76g)
O: Head of Demeter right, wreathed in grain and wearing triple earring and necklace; ΔAI under chin.
R: Ear of barley with seven grains, leaf to right; plow above leaf, MAX below, META upward to left.
Johnston C-1; SNG ANS 470; SNG Cop 1227; HN Italy 1581; Sear 416
ex Windsor Antiquities
Founded around 700 BC by Achaean colonists, Metapontum strived to remain neutral through the many wars common in Magna Graecia. They took no active role in the struggle between fellow Achaean colonies of Kroton and Sybaris, although they did give sanctuary to Pythagoras and his followers after they were banished from Kroton. Here he taught until his retirement, and here he died (c. 500 BC).
Metapontum joined Taras in an alliance with Alexander of Epirus during his wars against the Lucanians and Bruttians (332 BC). However when Metapontum declined a similar offer to ally with Kleonymus of Sparta in 303 BC, Taras became hostile and attacked, eventually extorting a large sum of gold from the Metapontines. The animosity between them subsided by 281 BC, when Metapontum once again sided with the Tarentines in an alliance with Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, in the war against Rome.
By this time their influence in the region had waned, and we hear less and less of the city until the Second Punic War (216 BC), at which time Metapontum declared in favor of Hannibal. By 212 BC Hannibal occupied the city, and it seems to have been a major base for his forces. However, after his military reversal Hannibal was forced to give up possession of the region, departing Italy from Metapontum in 207 BC and evacuating the population at the same time. Metapontum would never again play a major role in Magna Graecia, and although Cicero mentions visiting the city, Pausanias tells us that the site was a complete ruin by his time.Enodia
|
|
Metapontum, Lucania350-300 BC
AE15 (15mm, 2.80g)
O: Head of Demeter right, wreathed in grain.
R: Ear of grain.
Johnston 62; HN Italy 1698; Sear 621v
Enodia
|
|
Metapontum, Lucania470-440 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.82g).
O: Ear of barley with six grains.
R: Incuse barley grain; annulet to left.
Noe 304; HN Italy 1488
ex Agora Auctions; ex Artifact Man
Metapontum was located on the Gulf of Taras between the rivers Bradanus and Casuentus.
This ideal location, lying on a richly fertile plain, would provide the Metapontines with the abundant grain harvests from which they became both wealthy and influential. By the fifth century Metapontum had grown so prosperous that she paid an annual tribute to Delphi in the form of a "golden harvest" (Strabo), thought to be a sheaf of grain fashioned from gold.
Enodia
|
|
Metapontum, Lucania 225-200 BC
AE17 (17.5mm, 6.13g)
O: Head of Leukippos right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with running wolf.
R: Demeter standing facing, holding long crossed torch in right hand, left hand on hip; META to right.
Johnson Bronze 66; SNG ANS 561; SNG Cop 2249; HGC I, 1099; HN Italy 1702
ex Pavlos Palou
Enodia
|
|
Neapolis, Campania270-240 BC
AE19 (19mm, 5.38g)
O: Laureate head of Apollo left; NEOΠOΛITΩN before, Ξ behind.
R: Man headed bull right, crowned by Nike flying right; IΣ below.
Graziano 423; MSP I, 363; Sambon 672; SNG ANS 477; Hands Type IV; HN Italy 589; Sear 557
ex Ancient Imports
“I will remember and not forget far-shooting Apollo.
Gods tremble as he approaches the home of Zeus:
All rise from their seats as he draws near
when he stretches his gleaming bow…
… How to praise you, celebrated in so many hymns?
Phoibos, the range of songs for you spreads over
all the islands and lands that feed calves.
All high places please you, from the mountain
headlands, to the rivers that flow seaward,
and the rugged banks sloping to the sea and harbor.”
~ Homeric Hymn to Apollo (Diane Rayor translation)Enodia
|
|
Neapolis, Campania275-250 BC
AR Didrachm (20mm, 6.92g)
O: Diademed head of the nymph Parthenope left, wearing triple earring; poppy head behind.
R: Man-faced bull standing right; Nike flying right above, crowning bull; IΣ below, [N]EAΠOΛITΩ[N] in ex.
Sambon 510; HN Italy 586; SNG ANS 400; Hands Class VI; Sear 309v (eagle head)
ex Numisantique
The Greek colony on what is now known as the Bay of Naples was one of the earliest in Italy, originally established by settlers from Euboea, and possibly named Parthenope after the local Nymph. The city was later re-founded nearby and renamed Neapolis, or ‘New City’. Its proximity to Rome brought Italian customs to the colony, while conversely bringing a heavy Greek influence to the Romans.
It is not surprising then that Neapolis was one of the first Greek colonies to ally itself with Rome near the end of the fourth century BC, and was instrumental in repelling Hannibal a hundred years later.Enodia
|
|
Nola, Campania395-385 BC
AR Didrachm (21mm, 6.56g)
O: Diademed head of nymph right.
R: Man-faced bull walking left; Nike flying left above, placing wreath on bull's head, ΝΟΛAI[…] in ex.
Rutter 17; cf Sambon 806; cf HGC I, 493; HN Italy 605
ex Marc Walter Ancient Coins
Nola was located about 15 miles northeast of Neapolis, in a fertile region between the coast and the Appenine Mountains. The city still survives to this day, but very little is left of the ancient polis.
Nola is known as the city in which Augustus died in 14 AD.
Their coins are nearly identical to those of Neapolis and nearby Hyria, and in fact may actually have been struck in the former city.Enodia
|
|
Phistelia, Campania325-275 BC
AR Obol (10mm, 0.55g)
O: Head of Nymph facing slightly left.
R: Lion standing left, right forepaw raised; star above, [serpent] in exergue(?).
SNG ANS 590; HGC I, 505; HN Italy 619
From the Jörg Müller Collection; ex CNG
Very little is known of Phistelia, a city accounted for only by its coinage. It is believed to have been located by the sea due to the clam shell device used on many of the coin types issued there. Enodia
|
|
Poseidonia, Lucania350-290 BC
AE 16 (16x13mm, 3.80g)
O: Poseidon, nude, advancing left, Brandishing trident over head.
R: Bull butting right, waves below; dolphin right in ex.
HN Italy 1167; SNG IV Fitzwilliam 566
Rare
ex Colosseum Coin Exchange; ex Forvm Ancient Coins
Poseidonia was founded shortly before 600 BC by colonists from Sybaris, and archeological evidence shows that they, like the Sybarites, enjoyed fine living.
The archaic style of the obverse remained even into the classical era, however this coin is quite rare in that Poseidon is facing left, rather than to the right as on almost all other examples from this city. The bull on the reverse, typical of the coins of Sybaris, honored the mother colony.
Poseidonia came under Roman control in 273 after the defeat of Pyrrhus, at which time the name was changed to Paestum.
Enodia
|
|
Sybaris, Lucania550-510 BC
AR Obol (10mm, 0.44g)
O: Bull (Ox?) standing left, head turned back to right; VM in exergue.
R: Large MV monogram; four pellets around.
SNG ANS 853; HGC I, 1235; HN Italy 1739; Hands Type I, IV
ex Tom Vossen
This coin dates from the original Greek colony, Sybaris I, before its destruction by the Krotones in 511-510 BC.
The MV monogram on the reverse actually reads 'SY' for Sybaris, and I believe the VM in exergue on the obverse is 'MV' retrograde.
The bull device seen on all early types from Sybaris, and later on the coins of her colonies at Poseidonia and Thurii, may in fact be a white ox at the mother city.Enodia
|
|
Terina, Bruttium circa 300 BC
AR Drachm (16mm, 2.21g)
O: Head of nymph Terina left; triskeles behind, TEPINAIΩN left.
R: Winged Nike seated left on cippus, holding bird in extended right hand; star to left.
Holloway & Jenkins 111; HN Italy 2642
ex Bertolami Fine Arts
Enodia
|
|
Thurii, Lucania300-280 BC
AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.67g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with Skylla hurling a stone.
R: Bull butting right; ΘOYPIΩN and ΘE above, tunny fish in ex.
SNG ANS 1081; HN Italy 1870; Sear 443v (inscription on exergual line)
From the Frederick H. Rindge collection; ex Jack H. Beymer
Rising from the ruins of New Sybaris, Thurii was originally planned by Perikles of Athens as a Greek utopia. Scientists, artists, poets and philosophers from all over the Greek mainland were encouraged to immigrate to southern Italy around 443 BC to help establish this new city tucked against the mountains between two rivers on the west coast of the Tarentine Gulf. Among those accepting the challenge was Herodotus, who finished his ‘Histories’ here before his death in 420. The sophist Protagoras of Abdera also came, and was commissioned to write the new city’s democratic constitution.
However this idea of a peaceful colony of free-thinkers was destined to be short-lived. By 413 BC the colony was at war with mother-city Athens, and in 390 Thurii suffered a significant defeat by the Lucanians. In response the Thurians called in help from Rome to deal with this threat, and then again in 282 for its’ war with Taras. The city was later plundered by Hannibal of Carthage during the second Punic war, who left it in ruin.Enodia
|
|
Thurii, Lucania 425-400 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 1.02g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet.
R: Bull butting right; ΘOYPIΩN above; [tunny fish right] in ex.
Sear 438; BMC 1 21
The coinage of Thurii depicts its’ origins, with Athena adorning the obverse, and the bull reverse, although more dynamic here, is reminiscent of the ealier coins of Sybaris.
Enodia
|
|
Velia, Lucania350-310 BC (Period VI: Kleudoros Group)
AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.50g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with griffin, swan's head at front of visor.
R: Lion prowling left; Φ above, >E monogram (Kleudoros) below, YEΛHTΩN in ex, all within linear circle.
Williams 297; SNG ANS 1312; SNG Ashmolean 1233; HGC I, 1311; HN Italy 1289; Sear 460v
ex Jack H. Beymer
In 545 BC the Persian King Cyrus the Great conquered the Ionian colony of Phocaea in Asia Minor. The survivors fled by sea, and after a settlement on Corsica was destroyed by the Carthaginians the Phocaean refugees finally reached the south-west coast of Lucania between 538 and 535 BC, where they founded Velia on a promontory between two rivers.
Its’ natural harbor and fortunate situation on the road between Rome and Rhegion made Velia a prime center of commerce, and it soon became known throughout the Mediterranean as a profitable destination and a safe shelter from the harsh winds of the Tyrrhenian Sea. This allowed the colony to thrive, and by the middle of the 5th century BC the Eleatic school of philosophy took form here under Xenophanes and Parmenides, the latter also writing the city's constitution.
Enodia
|
|
Velia, Lucania305-290 BC (Period VII: Philistion Group)
AR Didrachm (22mm, 7.33g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Phrygian helmet decorated with griffin; palmette on neck-guard, Θ (Philistion) behind.
R: Lion standing right with head facing, devouring ram‘s head; grasshopper between Φ-I above, YEΛHTΩN in ex.
William 415; HGC I, 1322; HN Italy 1305; SNG ANS 1361; SNG Ashmolean 1322-4
ex Praefectus Coins
Velia was never conquered by the Lucanians, and in 275 BC signed an alliance with Rome. However over the centuries the mouths of the two rivers between which the city was built silted up the harbor, resulting in a ruined trade. In time the city became surrounded by marshlands, malaria ensued, and its inhabitants moved away.
Velia had managed to withstand centuries of regional hostility, but withered before the forces of nature.Enodia
|
|
Velia, Lucania465-440 BC (Period II: Pre-Athena Group)
AR Drachm (15mm, 3.52g)
O: Head of nymph with frontal eye right, wearing beaded necklace.
R: Owl with closed wing perched right on olive branch, head facing; YEΛH behind.
Williams 78; HGC I, 1328; Hands Class VI; HN Italy 1265; Sear 251
ex Munzen & Medaillen GmbH
The first coins minted at Velia in the late 6th century BC were archaic drachms featuring a feeding lion on the obverse and a simple incuse square on the reverse.
The nymph head drachms such as this example, which Williams designates as ‘pre-Athena types‘, can be dated fairly accurately to the period immediately following the Battle of Cumae in 474 BC.
The combined fleet of Cyme and Syracuse defeated the Etruscans in a great naval battle off the coast of southern Italy, greatly weakening Etruscan influence in the region and thereby empowering Rome. The resulting economic boost allowed Poseidonia to begin coining again circa 470, followed by Terina in Bruttium and finally Velia. It was also around this time that Velia’s famous lion series of didrachms first appeared, and would continue for the next two centuries.Enodia
|
|
Velia, Lucania4th-2nd century BC
AE 15 (15mm, 2.91g)
O: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress.
R: Owl standing left on olive sprig, head facing; YEΛH behind.
SNG ANS 1414-15; Di Bello 208; HN Italy 1332; HGC I, 1342
Rare
ex Marcantica
References give a broad date range to this lovely bronze, but I think we can be a little more specific. The fine style, especially of the bust, look much more like late 4th century-ish and leads me to believe this coin should be placed earlier within the period.
Enodia
|
|
Velia, Lucania535-480 BC
AR Obol (8mm, 0.61g)
O: Forepart of lion right, tearing at stag's leg.
R: Irregular incuse square.
Williams 34-35; SNG ANS 1221; HN Italy 1261; HGC I, 1337v (lion left)
Rare
ex LAC
A fine example of late archaic art, this is now the oldest coin in my collection.
Enodia
|
|
Velia, Lucania305-290 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.93g)
O: Head of nymph right, hair in sakkos with loose ribbon dangling behind; E behind neck, Φ(?) before.
R: Owl facing with wings spread, standing on [Z]; [YEΛHTΩN] in exergue.
Williams 635; SNG ANS 1278; HGC I, 1334; HN Italy 1324
Scarce
ex Savoca Numismatics
Enodia
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
