Period of the Second Punic War

Sale: Triton X, Lot: 22. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007.  Sold For $5600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ETRURIA, Populonia. Circa 211-206 BC. AV 25 Asses (1.40 g). Second Punic War issue. Lion's head right; X-XV (mark of value) below and behind / Blank. Vecchi I 47; HN Italy 128; SNG ANS 2; SNG France -; SNG Copenhagen 36. Superb EF.

This Etruscan gold coin dates from the Second Punic War. The series it belongs to has denominational marks related to the bronze As, issued on the Roman sextantal standard (an As of two ounces) introduced circa 211 BC. Issued contemporaneously with the Roman Head of Mars/Eagle types of 60, 40 and 20 Asses, they probably did not circulate long after the cessation of the Roman types, as by circa 209 BC relations between Rome and Etruria had been strained considerably. The Etruscan types of the series differ from their Roman counterparts by the archaizing blank reverse which is shared by the silver coinage of Populonia as well, but is without parallel outside Etruria.