Samnite Punches Rome's Nose!

I love to collect Roman Republican and peripheral coins to the Roman Republic. I love the histories of the Roman Republic because it reflects their trials, tribulations, mistakes, successes, and huge struggles to later become the ancient world's Greatest Empire.

The Samnites were a group of 4 tribes from South-Central Italy. They were an off-shoot of the Sabines, and were a very tough, sturdy people.

As the Republican Romans absorbed many of the tribes, cities, and regions into their Empire, they fought three brutal wars with the Samnites in 343- 341 BCE, 326- 304 BCE and 298-290 BCE. Fighting the Samnites was a real struggle, brutal, and really toughened the Romans when they eventually defeated them. They learned that fighting a "backwards" mountain people would really give them a bloody nose. I believe that they incorporated the characteristic feather in the Helmet as a substitute or an addition to the horse-hair comb from the Samnites. I saw this and had to get it.


SAMNIUM, Aesernia. Circa 263-240 BC. Æ (20mm, 7.14 g, 8h). Head of Vulcan left, wearing pilos; tongs to right / Jupiter in biga galloping right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses. Campana 4; HN Italy 430. Good Fine, dark green-brown patina.
From the Camerata Romeu Collection.

 

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A second coin that I captured is from an area that joined with the Samnite people, They were on the Adriatic coast due east of Rome. They produced a small series of coins that were contemporary with Rome's early bronze style coins. They were similar sizes, weights, and denominations. This Quadrans was minted in Larinum in the Frentani area of Central Italy.

FRENTANI, Larinum. ca 210-175 BC. Æ 18mm - Quadrans. Bearded head of Herakles right, in lion's skin headdress / LADINOD, centaur galloping right, holding branch over left shoulder; three pellets in ex. SNG ANS 137; BMC 8; SNG Cop 272

Wildwinds.com had a better example so that you can examine the features better than my coin:

 

Thats very interesting, did italian coins have the same reverse designs?

 

Neat addition, especially with Vulcan & the tongs.

 

No, I believe not. Rome did not have any with a Centaur reverse. That is what attracted me to this coin. As I looked further at the listing, and researched, I found that these Allies of Rome (at the time of mintage) were producing their own coins. They were struck with their unique designs. I am understanding more that the Romans' coins were using the same standards and sizes as many of their Central Italy contemporaries. I was just amazed that Rome allowed parallel coin minting by their Allies after they were conquered and absorbed into the Republican Empire.

 

very nice look like a CNG winner

 

I enjoy their auctions!

 

Very nice coins and interesting write-up! I had forgotten all about the Samnites and their bloody wars against Rome. It was good to be reminded, since these wars were important in the development of the Roman Republic.

 

I like your collecting theme a lot, such interesting history.

How many coins from any area feature a centaur?

John

 

Thank you very much. Yes, I have not seen many Centaur. Such a known mythological creature in Ancient history, however I have not run across many coins... I really thought is was an attractive coin because of that, as well as being a parallel Quadrans to their Big Brother Roman's Quadrans...

 

I always thought once Rome conquered an area they would start minting the standard coins of the day, including over striking or melting the native people's coins. Wasn't that the purpose of the mints that travelled with the armies? Maybe that came later with the empire and the republic showed more tolerance.

 

My assumptions also... However, as my two above postings show, the Republic apparently allowed parallel mints with their Allies. Perhaps they began consolidating their Italic Empire (remember the Samnites were a tough adversary) several years later. Romans typically wrote separate and distinct treaties with those tribes and states that they conquered. That was part of Rome's genius in creating an Empire. Italy may had not been truly consolidated and issues resolved until AFTER the Socii War, 90-88 BCE. I am still in "search and destroy" mode researching Allied Coinage. Perhaps others may post what they know?

 

It depends on just how conquered the conquered were. In some cases, the Romans simply added the names of quaestors to coins that basically followed native designs. (That would be your Eeyore coin, Brian.) In other cases, cities were technically subjugated, but the the need to assert Roman authority wasn't necessary because of the compliance of the conquered, who were allowed to continue minting native types. Laodicea is a good example. In still other cases, local coining was completely replaced by Roman mints that issued Roman coins, but frequently honoring local deities and themes.

 

Very nice! Definitely a fun and interesting sub-theme.

Phistelia was a Samnite settlement, the exact location of which is not known. Not much of its history survives either, but it did strike a small group of silver coins dated to 405-275 BC.


CAMPANIA, Phistelia (The Phistelians)
Circa 310-300 BC
AR Obol
0.64g, 11.3mm
HN Italy 619 (for type); Rutter p. 180, IV; Campana, Agg. Fistelia 15a
O: Female head slightly left, wearing necklace.
R: Lion at bay, left; coiled serpent in exergue.

 

Wow, Alegandalf => sweet OP-addition (I love it ... and the write-up was very cool)

Oh, and amazing addition as well, Z-Bro (sweet coin)

Yah, sadly I don't think I have any examples to toss into your thread (I need more coins!)

Ummm, unless these two "Campania" examples fit in? ...

Campania, Teanum Sidicinum, AE20




Campania, Neapolis, AR Nomos



... yah, I'm merely following Z-Bro's Campania lead (I totally apologize if I posted out of line)

 

That is a gorgeous coin!

 

I like the Campania series, Archeloos and the Rooster...nice animals in your stalls.

 

LOVE them 'AL'...and the other posts as well...

"Italic' coins are one of several areas I will be venturing into this year---after all, the history and non-prow reverses greatly appeal to me (terrific reverses on those coins!!). Similarly I'm focusing on RR denari without just another Roma and chariot.

 

We have similar collecting interests as always!

 

I love all the coins posted on this thread!

The Etruscans also fought against the Romans during the 2nd and 3rd Samnite Wars, as they fought to limit the Romans expansion into central Italy. I am not sure if this coin was minted near the end of the wars or after the wars ended, since the Republic allowed parallel mints with their Allies.



Italy, Coastal Etruria, Populonia
AR 10 units (c. 4 gm, 17 mm)
3rd century BC
obv: Laureate head of Apollo left; at right, X
rev: Plain
Ref: Vecchi III 13/27, HN Italy 168. Vecchi EC 1,series 70.