Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XXII 7-8 Oct 2021
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Etruria, uncertain mint Monetiform PB Tessera. 3rd - 2nd centuries BC. Young male head to right, wearing conical hat with apex; below, serpent to right / Horseman galloping to right, holding palm branch over shoulder. Unpublished in the standard references. 5.00g, 17mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.
From the Vitangelo collection.
This finely engraved monetiform lead tessera probably representing an uncia is almost certainly Etruscan. The obverse depicts an clean shaven priest, wearing the characteristic Etruscan pointed hat with a peak on top similar to that of the haruspex/sacrificial instruments issue of the rare cast coins from an uncertain mint of the Val di Chiana in Inland Etruria, cf. ICC 191-5; HN Italy 68a-e. This form of hat seems to be the forerunner of the apex worn by the Roman flamines and prominent in 1st century art. The serpent was an age old religious symbol of eternity and continual renewal of life dear to the Etruscan religious psyche. The reverse depiction of a horseman galloping right grasping the palm of victory must refer to an equestrian event under the auspices of the clergy in a similar way to that of the enormous coinage issue of L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi celebrating the Ludi Apollinares of Rome in 90 BC.
Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare.
From the Vitangelo collection.
This finely engraved monetiform lead tessera probably representing an uncia is almost certainly Etruscan. The obverse depicts an clean shaven priest, wearing the characteristic Etruscan pointed hat with a peak on top similar to that of the haruspex/sacrificial instruments issue of the rare cast coins from an uncertain mint of the Val di Chiana in Inland Etruria, cf. ICC 191-5; HN Italy 68a-e. This form of hat seems to be the forerunner of the apex worn by the Roman flamines and prominent in 1st century art. The serpent was an age old religious symbol of eternity and continual renewal of life dear to the Etruscan religious psyche. The reverse depiction of a horseman galloping right grasping the palm of victory must refer to an equestrian event under the auspices of the clergy in a similar way to that of the enormous coinage issue of L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi celebrating the Ludi Apollinares of Rome in 90 BC.