Etruscan TERROR

Prior to the rise of Rome, and as a direct influence on Rome's growth, were the Etrurians. They were an ancient race where historians debate who they are and where these people come from. Their language, customs, and burial habits were different from the surrounding peoples of Italia. Rome borrowed many words and customs from the Etruscans, but they also held scorn for them. The first Roman Kings were Etruscans, until Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was deposed in 506 BCE which paved the way for the Roman Republic.


This is their influence from their beginnings in the 8th Century BCE through the 5th C BCE. Today, we know their core homeland as roughly Tuscany, north of Rome.

Silver coinage, like the rest of Central Italy, came late. Prior Aes and Bronze coinage was used and traded.

I became fascinated with coins from Etruria for sometime, but lately a few interesting coins surfaced that I captured.

I lost out on the recent Baldwin auctions, and felt that I would have a long wait to find any Etruscan coins. However, I went to the Carolina Coin Show in Charlotte yesterday, wearing a NOW lucky @TIF Crack'em Out Shirt, and captured a GREAT coin. AND... it WAS the ONLY coin I captured that was slabbed.

I immediately de-slabbed it using my vise method... easy, safe, 3 turns on the long and short sides, and the sonic weld popped, freeing the little guy!




Etruria, Populonia
3rd Century BC
Silver 20-Asses
8.1g, ovoid 16.6mm x 20mm
Obv: Facing head of Metus, hair bound with a diadem, X:X below
Rev blank
Sambon 47; HN Italy 152

Metus was the Etrurian name of the similar Greek God Deimos or fear or terror.

And... I won BIG... I captured this MUCH less than the recent auction hammer prices! I was wowed...

 

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Nice!

 

That looks like my M-I-L! Ouch.

Really, an excellent acquisition. Glad for you.

 

Wonderful !!!! Congrats!!!

I've been fascinated by the Etruscans and their history for longer than I can remember (no 'old dude' jokes please)....and I WANT a coin like yours!!!

Curious,what reactions or comments did your TIF original 'Crack
em out shirt' elicit???

 

This is a really exceptional piece and certainly alot of Asses, thanks for adding this to my want list.

 

ROFL... well, YOURS may live away... MINE LIVES with us... and, YOU. KNOW. WHAT...? OMG, she looks and acts like Metus TOO!!!

 

Actually, several people involved with Ancients said that it was great! Paul Landsberg with Ephesus laughed; Perry Siegel with Herakles knows @TIF and @ancientcoinguru and a few other of you... he loved it! Tom Wood had his de-slabber vise there wanting to show me how to use it! I could care less about the Modern dealers... however, I did get some "looks" when they realized what the design was. It was a warm day, and it felt comfortable.

 

I akin it to the Roman Republic Didrachm. My Etrurian 10-As as the RR Denarius / Drachm, and my Etrurian 2-1/2 As to the RR AR Sestertius. These coins were contemporary to the RR Pre-denarius, and the Etruscans also cast Aes Grave coinage, very similar to Rome's and Central Italia's. I also have an Etrurian cast Aes Grave Sextans...

 

An awesome coin!!! With a cool map

 

Congrats, and getting it cheaper then your previous try is even better. That happens alot for me.

 

Very nice! How was the Charlotte show? I wanted to go, but have family in town. I'm definatly hitting the Raleigh show though...

 

Congrats! That's an impressive capture.

 

I plan to go to Raleigh also... looking forward to it. Same players will be there. Charlotte was a bit slower than expected... but it was a Friday. I spent time looking at each booth, but I spent good chunks of time with the Ancient's dealers.

 

Very nice - I'll be hitting Raleigh on Friday to see the seminar on biblical coins (but mostly because my wife won't want to go, and she has to work on Friday...)

 

that coin rock and rolls all night, and partys every day!

 

LOL, my wife always says she wants to go, then craps out when I end up leaving. I will probably

 

OH MAN, grew up in HS listening to them... I should had thought of that!

 

very nice and thanks for write up

 

similar die break



https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2833&category=58482&lot=2383063

 

BROTHERS from the Die!!!

We should look REALLY hard at the Blank reverses to see if our serial numbers are sequential...