EBay has begun giving a small percentage of purchases back as a kickback in the form of a credit that must be used rather quickly after it is received. Not seeing anything I wanted and thought I could expect to win before the expiration, I went on the look for something not too expensive but costing over the $7.43 credit I had. The result was this AE 25 pentokion of the Mamertines in Sicily c.220-200 BC. The Mamertines were Italian (Oscan) mercenaries who were employed by Agothocles of Syracuse. When he died and they were unemployed some of them captured the city of Messana in 288 BC and killed all the people except mariagable young women whom they used to produce a new generation of Mamertines. Since this coin dates to a couple generations after the main event, the plan seems to have worked. The Mamertines usually sided with Rome in the wars with Carthage and disappeared from the scene when Rome was in control fully. Since they started as Italians, perhaps we could say they returned to their roots about 200. The coin shows a head of Ares and a warrior with his horse. On the reverse right is the legend MAMEPTIN(OI) and a large Pi left of the horse for the denomination Pentokion. These are not rare but not always a lot better than this. It closed at $14.11 postpaid so my credit dropped it to under $7. It would be appropriate here to show your Mamertine coins, issues of Agothocles or coins of the Punic Wars.
For something you had to search for, this is a nice looking coin and the history is quite interesting.
Not sure they actually fit in this thread, but I have three coins I have labeled as Sicily/Carthage Punic:
Great choice, Doug! This coin may have circulated contemporaneously with yours. Sicily, Syracuse AE20, 5.1g; c. 274-216 BC Obv.: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Laureate head of Apollo left. Rev.: Pegasus flying left; below, Δ. Reference: SNG ANS 647. Calciati 85.
A few years was able to score this billon Tri-Drachm from the Second Punic War. Africa, Zeugitana. Carthage Hannibal Barca (The Scourage of Rome) Struck 210-205 BC BI Tri-drachm 25.6mm @ 10.54g Obverse: Traditional Bust of Tanit Left. Reverse: Horse Standing right Palms tree Behing (small scale type) Ref: Lorber 168 Note: HJB- states that it comes from a hoard cataloged by C.Lorber around 1997 it appears in Coin Hoards Vol. IX 2002 Punic "Horse and Palm" Billon Tridrachms by C. Lorber. Note:Scarce to Rare.
Hannibal Traveling Military Mint. Iberia, Carthago Nova c. 220-210 BC. AE Unit 13.4mm 1.59g Obverse: Bust of Tanit Left Reverse: Carthaginian Helmet ref: Alvarez, Burgos (1992), 86, 403-4 ; Villaronga (NAH, Numismática Antigua de Hispania) p. 69, nº 43 (pl. II, XXI / XXII) ; Lindgren I, 2)
Wow Doug, that's a very cool $14-addition (even Bing must be giving you a standing-o for that sweet score?!!) Agathokles, eh? .... I think I have a couple of those babies hangin' around here somewhere? (hopefully I have the correct dude?) Sicilia, Syracuse: Agathokles AE23 317-289 B.C. Diameter: 22 x 23 mm Weight: 9.7 grams Obverse: head of Kore-Persephone left, wreathed with grain Reverse: bull butting left, dolphin and above, dolphin below Reference: SNG ANS 561-571 Sicily, Syracuse: Agathokles Æ24 317-289 BC Diameter: 23.9mm Weight: 9.26gm Obverse: Diademed head of the young Herakles left, ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ before Reverse: The Nemean lion striding right, club above, ΣΩ in exergue Reference: Calciati II, p290, 150, R1 7; c.f. SNG ANS 733ff Other: gVF, superior portrait with sculpted features usually represented by simpler forms
a well spent 14 bucks, interesting group of folks as well...had no idea who they were. here are my only punic war coins...
It's interesting that the average ancient Sicilian coin is in a rather poor grade. We all seem to have a few of these. The really nice ones command big premiums of course. I wonder why they didn't survive as well as other series.
Coins found in regions that have used chemical fertilizers for a long time might be more likely to be corroded. Is this the case here?
Mamertine Sicily AEPenkontin Zeus/Warrior Carthage Second Punic War Sicily, Syracuse 275-215BC Poseidon/Trident
I have one from Messana: Sicily, Messana Coin: Bronze Pentonkion - Laureate head of Ares left, helmet behind. MAMEΡTINΩN - Warrior, horse behind, standing left, spear in left, right holding head of horse, Π left. Mint: Messana (220 - 200 BC) Wt./Size/Axis: 10.72g / 26mm / - References: SNG Cop 446, F
MESSANA?!!! (Sproinnnngggggg!!!) ... man, I almost missed my chance!! (thanks Pishpash, and Doug) ... I love this example ... SICILY, Messana. AR Drachm (60 Onkia) 445-439 BC Diameter: 18 mm Weight: 3.59 grams Obverse: Charioteer driving biga of mules right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses; olive leaf and berry in exergue Reverse: Hare springing right within wreath, ΜΕΣΣΑ-ΝION Reference: Caltabiano Series IX, 388 (D175/R168); HGC 2, 807; SNG Lloyd 1111; SNG Lockett 820; Boston MFA 288; Jameson 651; Pozzi 487; Rizzo pl. 27, 11 (all from the same dies) Other: 10h … Near VF, toned, rough surface, scratches, scuffs. Very Rare (R2) From the Continental Collection FYI => rabbit examples are fricken hard to come-by!! (but they're all awesome!!)
