A Bronze of The Brettii: Poseidon's Wife

I've kept an eye out for one of these since seeing Doug's example in 2014.


BRUTTIUM, the Brettii
216-214 BCE
Æ quartuncia, 13.5mm, 2.06 g
Obv: head of Amphitrite left, wearing crab headdress
Rev: crab; torch above, BPET-TIΩN above and below
Ref: Pfeiler p. 33, 4a; Scheu, Bronze 51; HN Italy 1944; SNG ANS 123–4; SNG Lloyd –; McClean 1579

One of the fifty Nereids*, Amphitrite was reportedly shy and clever. Poseidon was smitten and wanted to take her as his wife but she spurned his advances and fled. Poor Poseidon, thoroughly unaccustomed to being undesired, became depressed. He had his wingman, Delphin (god of Dolphins), chase her down and convince her of the wondrous benefits of being his wife. It worked; they were joined and several children, including Triton.

In ancient works of art she resembles Aphrodite, but she was usually distinguished by a net on her hair and by the claws of a crab on her forehead. Sometimes she is depicted riding on marine animals, and sometimes as drawn by them.

*Her origin varies in ancient sources, as does her role and her exploits-- the usual Greek mythological murkiness.

Amphitrite didn't enjoy much face time on ancient coins. In addition to the crab hat bronze I've only seen two other types which are generally thought to represent her:

BRUTTIUM, The Brettii. Time of the Second Punic War. Circa 221-201 BC. AV Drachm
Roman Republic, Q. Creperius M.f. Rocus. 69 BC. AR Serrate Denarius

I've seen at least a couple more types described as Amphitrite in some places but Hera in most (The Brettii, AR drachm), plus a bronze from Arados with jugate busts of Zeus and Hera which were called Poseidon and Amphitrite by Rouvier.

As for the issuers of this coin, there is about as much agreement about the origins of the Brettii as there is of Amphitrite. From a CNG writeup:

"The Brettii were an indigenous Italian people who emerged in southern Italy in the mid-fourth century BC. Ancient authors describe them as a group of revolted slaves and miscellaneous fugitives who came together after seeking refuge in the rugged mountains of the area. Nonetheless, it is more likely that most of these people were native Oenotrians or Pelasgians who had escaped from domination by the Greek cities and other native groups to the north. By the mid-third century BC, this disparate congregation of people, now known as the Brettii, had become the predominant power over most of Italy south of the river Laos, including the important mints of Consentia, Medma, Hipponium, Terina, and Thurium (Diod. XVI.15; Strabo VI)."

...

Now, since I don't have much of a pseudo-scholarly writeup prepared, here's a modern recreation of the obverse



...


Let's see your coins of Bruttium, crabs, Amphitrite, or whatever you think works!

 

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Beautiful coin all around

 

I have nothing to contribute here, but WOW!!! That is one cool coin!!!
Congrats Tif!

 

TIF I believe you need to amend your attribution. The crab on the reverse is clearly one of the crabs from Finding Nemo and the torch is actually a representation of the bubbles.

 

oh wow, what a lovely little coin TIF...dazzling decapods!

nice write up as well!


i don't have much in the way of crab or hat themed coins.
i'll post a coin of amphtrites hubby for valentines day..





....and that's a sweet new hat!

 

That's a sweet coin find. Stunning really.

 

Wow!! => congrats on that amazing crab-hat and the awesome crab-hat OP-coin!! (both are stunning additions)

Bruttium, Rhegion
445-435 BC
Lion's scalp & wreath




Sicily, Akragas, Counterstamp
500-400 BC
Eagle on Hare & Crab + Crayfish Counterstamp c/s




Sicily, Akragas
Eagle & Crab (both coins)
450-440 BC




Oh, and I thought that I'd toss-in a bit of miscellaneous seafood as well ...

Aeolis, Gryneion
400-300 BC
Apollo & Mussel




Syracuse, Sicily
357-344 BC
Female head & Dolphin/Scallop





Ionia Smyrna AE Chalkous
250 BC
Tyche & Krater with Shrimp

 

Wow excellent example! Here is my only Bruttium and and my only Crab from Akragas.

 

Fantastic coin! It's fitting to have purchased it at the most recent Triton sale and have Triton be her son

 

Move over Amphitrite, a new crab-hat goddess is in town! Seriously though, that's a beautiful coin.

I just posted my Crepereius denarius in the other thread, but here it is again, with a new pic.

She's conventionally called Amphitrite on this coin, but since she's paired with the Roman Neptune riding the hippocamp biga on the reverse, I suppose she should properly be called Salacia ('the Salty One'!).

Not a Triton win, but a win with Triton on it :

AE Assarion of Plautilla from Nicomedia, Bithynia.

And a random Sicilian crab coin with bonus crayfish :

 

Lol...I love your modern recreation of the crab headdress!

My coin of the Bretti was minted about 214-211 BC, belonging to the period of the Hannibalic occupation of Italy. It is unknown who issued this coin, but was issued perhaps from Lokroi. There is no crab on this coin....but perhaps the attribution is incorrect, and that is a crab below Zeus, instead of a star?


AE half unit 3.75gm - 17 mm - h 8
Obv: Head of Nike left, NIKA in field
Rev: BPETTIΩN to left, Zeus standing right holding staff and hurling thunderbolt, cornucopia to right, star below
Ref: HN Italy 1982, SNG Cop 1681, SNG ANS 60.
Ex-ACR Auction 9, lot 74, Rome, April 29-30, 2014

 

Thanks

Hmm. Your star does look "crabby" (or spidery, or tick-y ) because of the direction of the rays, but other issues I've looked at are definitely stars.

 

Here is mine from that neck of the woods:

Rhegium, Bruttium
425/420 - 410 B.C.
Bronze Pentonkion
5.40 gm, 17 mm
Obv.: Lion scalp facing, boarder of dots
Rev.: PH within olive sprig with two leaves and three berries
Sear 683; BMC 1 p. 377, 42
[SNG Cop 1939]

 

I haven't shared this one yet...haven't received it yet...but here it is:



I'm really tickled with this one...

 

Sweet coin, Jwt => ummm, tell me a bit about this sweet new addition

 

Wow, @TIF ... COIN SHIRTS and CRAB HATS! You are building an AWESOME unform for the Legions of the Tiffonian Empire!

Wonderful coin. I have been looking at Bruttium coinage... I like them because of being non-Greek, indigenous peoples of South Italy... Nice write up

 

I've been battling a very bad head cold, so I haven't been on here or contributed as much as I would've liked this weekend.

However, I felt the OP coin is worthy of some praise. An utterly fantastic coin and neat background info too. The type of post the makes this place a pleasure to peruse daily.

 

That sucks. Hopefully it hasn't made you too crabby!

 

Neat coin TIF! I guess we know what your going to be for Halloween.

 

How about this for a contemporary equivalent!

Spungebob coins issued by the mint of New Zealand.