Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Etruria, Populonia.
50 asses circa 300-250, AV 2.83 g. Gorgoneion, hair bound with diadedm; below, (arrow down). Rev. Blank. Jameson 1827 (this coin). Vecchi I, 70 (this coin). EC 23.2 (this coin). Historia Numorum Italy 139.
Of the highest rarity, only two specimens known and the only one in private hands.
A coin of tremendous importance and fascination. A minor die break on obverse
and light marks, otherwise about extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 13, 1998, formerly exhibited at the Antikenmuseum Basel, 9. From the Jameson, Athos and Dina Moretti collections and an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
As one of only two specimens known and the only one of the two in private hands, this Etruscan gold coin is of the highest rarity. It was struck by Populonia (Fufluns in Etruscan), one of the original twelve cities of the Etruscan League, which was a loose organisation in Etruria. The city's name may perhaps simply mean "the people" as it seems to be related to the Latin word populus (people). Populonia grew wealthy from its metal-working industry in the seventh century BC and is known for its extensive series of gold and silver and bronze coinage struck between the fifth and the third century BC. This particular coin was struck in the first half of the third century BC, after the Etruscan cities had fallen under Roman domination. Like much of Etruscan art, the reverse type reflects strong Greek cultural influence. The facing head of Medusa-a common type for Populonian coins-appears on the obverse, but in the Etruscan context she was known as Metus. As far as can be gleaned from Etruscan painted pottery, her associated mythology was not much different for the Etruscans than it was for Greeks. This tendency to borrow Greek mythological figures and give them indigenous Italic names was also mirrored by the Romans. The obverse is also notable for the inclusion of a value-mark, in this case indicating the face value as 50 units. These units are widely believed to have been bronze asses since the indigenous coinages of Italy (i.e., not the Greek coinages of Magna Graecia) were based on bronze rather than silver. Value marks are a common feature of Populonian coins in the third century BC and their usage was passed onto the Romans when they later introduced the silver denarius with associated gold multiples during the Second Punic War. The Roman Republican gold 60-as piece employs the same sign for 50 that appears on this coin, with the addition X (10) to bring it up to the full value of 60 asses. Unlike contemporary Greek coinages, many issues of Populonia were struck without the use of distinct obverse dies. Instead, the flan was simply placed on a hard surface, which sometimes had types engraved in it and sometimes not, and then struck by the reverse die. The present gold coin features no type, but the flat reverse captures some of the irregular features of the surface upon which it was struck.
50 asses circa 300-250, AV 2.83 g. Gorgoneion, hair bound with diadedm; below, (arrow down). Rev. Blank. Jameson 1827 (this coin). Vecchi I, 70 (this coin). EC 23.2 (this coin). Historia Numorum Italy 139.
Of the highest rarity, only two specimens known and the only one in private hands.
A coin of tremendous importance and fascination. A minor die break on obverse
and light marks, otherwise about extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 13, 1998, formerly exhibited at the Antikenmuseum Basel, 9. From the Jameson, Athos and Dina Moretti collections and an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
As one of only two specimens known and the only one of the two in private hands, this Etruscan gold coin is of the highest rarity. It was struck by Populonia (Fufluns in Etruscan), one of the original twelve cities of the Etruscan League, which was a loose organisation in Etruria. The city's name may perhaps simply mean "the people" as it seems to be related to the Latin word populus (people). Populonia grew wealthy from its metal-working industry in the seventh century BC and is known for its extensive series of gold and silver and bronze coinage struck between the fifth and the third century BC. This particular coin was struck in the first half of the third century BC, after the Etruscan cities had fallen under Roman domination. Like much of Etruscan art, the reverse type reflects strong Greek cultural influence. The facing head of Medusa-a common type for Populonian coins-appears on the obverse, but in the Etruscan context she was known as Metus. As far as can be gleaned from Etruscan painted pottery, her associated mythology was not much different for the Etruscans than it was for Greeks. This tendency to borrow Greek mythological figures and give them indigenous Italic names was also mirrored by the Romans. The obverse is also notable for the inclusion of a value-mark, in this case indicating the face value as 50 units. These units are widely believed to have been bronze asses since the indigenous coinages of Italy (i.e., not the Greek coinages of Magna Graecia) were based on bronze rather than silver. Value marks are a common feature of Populonian coins in the third century BC and their usage was passed onto the Romans when they later introduced the silver denarius with associated gold multiples during the Second Punic War. The Roman Republican gold 60-as piece employs the same sign for 50 that appears on this coin, with the addition X (10) to bring it up to the full value of 60 asses. Unlike contemporary Greek coinages, many issues of Populonia were struck without the use of distinct obverse dies. Instead, the flan was simply placed on a hard surface, which sometimes had types engraved in it and sometimes not, and then struck by the reverse die. The present gold coin features no type, but the flat reverse captures some of the irregular features of the surface upon which it was struck.