Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction X 27 September 2015
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Etruria, Volaterrae Cast Æ As. 3rd century BC. Janiform head, wearing pointed hat / Etruscan legend 'velaθri' and I around club. Haeberlin p. 246, 1-23 pl. 84, 1-3; ICC 136; HN Italy 109b. 140g, 61mm, 6h.
Very Fine. Rare.
From the VCV Collection.
Volaterrae (Etruscan Velathri, modern Volterra), the defensive fortress of northern Etruria, firmly under Roman control by the early third century, issued three series of cast bronze. A Janiform head wearing a pointed cap is the obverse type common to all three issues, very possibly influenced by the contemporary Roman asses and quadrigati depicting the Janiform heads of the Dioscuri and the bronze asses characterized by the head of Janus. The Volaterran Janiform head is perhaps Culsans, the Etruscan equivalent of Janus as depicted by the celebrated statue from Cortona. The three reverse types are: mark of value, club and dolphin surrounded by the ethnic.
Very Fine. Rare.
From the VCV Collection.
Volaterrae (Etruscan Velathri, modern Volterra), the defensive fortress of northern Etruria, firmly under Roman control by the early third century, issued three series of cast bronze. A Janiform head wearing a pointed cap is the obverse type common to all three issues, very possibly influenced by the contemporary Roman asses and quadrigati depicting the Janiform heads of the Dioscuri and the bronze asses characterized by the head of Janus. The Volaterran Janiform head is perhaps Culsans, the Etruscan equivalent of Janus as depicted by the celebrated statue from Cortona. The three reverse types are: mark of value, club and dolphin surrounded by the ethnic.