Got 1 lot from Roma today

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by kazuma78, Mar 26, 2020.

  1. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    I got one I really wanted! I really enjoy the history of the punic wars and when I saw this one for sale I really fell in love with it.

    0210.jpg

    Lucania, Metapontion AR Half Shekel. Punic occupation, circa 215-207 BC. Head of Athena to right wearing crested Corinthian helmet / Ear of barley with leaf to right; owl in flight above leaf, META to left. Robinson, Punic p. 50, 3; SNG ANS 549-50; Jameson 329; HN Italy 1634. 3.52g, 17mm, 7h.

    Mint State; beautiful iridescent cabinet tone.

    From the David Freedman Collection;
    Privately purchased from A. H. Baldwin & Sons Ltd., 18 September 2017.
     
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  3. svessien

    svessien Senior Member

    A beauty. Congratulations!
     
  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Gorgeous coin!! Congrats :)
     
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  5. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    Here was their additional description of the background:

    Sometime after the defeat of Pyrrhos of Epeiros by Rome, Metapontion came under Roman domination. We do not know precisely when this occurred or the circumstances of the event, but the city was amongst the first to defect to Hannibal after the battle of Cannae in 216 BC. However, it was still occupied by a Roman garrison sometime afterwards, and only in 212 when Hannibal captured nearby Taras did the Metapontines expel the Roman garrison and fully declare for the Carthaginian cause. Hannibal quickly utilised the city as a supply depot, garrisoning the town with his troops.

    It was during the Punic occupation of Metapontion that this coin was struck. Like other Punic issues minted at this time in southern Italy, the fabric and execution of strike are neat and precise, with thin flans and competent engraving. While the coin retains the grain ear on the reverse, the obverse employs a type rarely used before at the city, the head of Athena wearing a crested Corinthian helmet. It is not known the significance of this change, but is paralleled elsewhere at other Punic-aligned cities.

    After the Carthaginian defeat at the pivotal battle of the Metaurus in 207, Hannibal's hopes for victory in Italy were dashed. Having first relocated the inhabitants of Metapontion to protect them from Roman vengeance, in 202 he withdrew all his forces to Africa to protect the motherland from Scipio. Afterwards the city of Metapontion never regained its former prominence, and by the mid second century AD was, according to Pausanias, totally deserted and in ruins (Paus. vi, 19. § 11).
     
  6. Clavdivs

    Clavdivs Well-Known Member

    Wow!! That is amazing.. congratulations!
     
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  7. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    Truly a stunning coin! Never ceases to amaze me that a 2,000 year old plus coin can still look as though it was minted yesterday.
     
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  8. Ricardo123

    Ricardo123 Well-Known Member

    The toning is incredible. I can imagin in hands.
     
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  9. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    What a beauty!
     
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  10. panzerman

    panzerman Well-Known Member

    Sure glad you got it, a really beautifull coin:) The way the bidding was going, it was tough landing anything.
    John
     
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  11. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    I agree, I also REALLY liked this one but couldn't swing them both. This one went for 1800 pounds which I thought was actually not aweful as a representative of the type. It's very hard to find this type in this quality if you look through auction records.
    0208-1.jpg

    Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 290-280 BC. Head of Demeter right wearing grain wreath, triple-drop earring and necklace / Ear of barley with leaf to right, two amphorae to right with star above, ΦΙ in lower right field, META to left. Johnston Class D, 4.16 (same dies); SNG ANS 517; HN Italy 1625. 7.80g, 21mm, 7h.

    Extremely Fine; wonderful old cabinet tone with iridescent highlights over lustrous metal.

    Ex LHS Numismatik AG, Auction 100, 23 April 2007, lot 122 (hammer: CHF 2,500).
     
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  12. kazuma78

    kazuma78 Supporter! Supporter

    Whoops, duplicate post
     
  13. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    That is a great coin with an owl to remember. Congratulations.
     
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  14. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Wonderful coin - congrats.
     
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  15. happy_collector

    happy_collector Well-Known Member

    A very nice coin. Congrats!
     
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  16. Ryro

    Ryro Trying to remove supporter status

    Might be my favorite, new coin, I’ve seen posted on CT this year. One of my very favorite times throughout history and a dazzling coin ta boot!
     
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  17. octavius

    octavius Well-Known Member

    Incredible coin! look at the detail on the owl.
     
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  18. Cucumbor

    Cucumbor Well-Known Member

    Exceptionnal !
    Well done

    Q
     
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