A Mamertine Bronze

Very interesting coin from a historical perspective! I wonder what ever happened to the Mamertines? After the start of the First Punic war the sources cease to mention them.?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Cool capture @Alegandron !!!

That coin has seen a thing or two....and what a sweet butting bull!!! Hey, is that the extinct 'hornless' variety

 

Lost to History as the sources state.....another mystery for a History channel series???

 

I have another en route...


SICILY, Messana.
The Mamertinoi. 211-208 BC.
Æ Pentonkion (27 mm, 11.70 g).
Obv: Laureate male head Mars left
Rev: Horseman, holding spear and with drapery around left arm, leading horse left; Π to left.
Ref: Särström series XI, A; CNS 25; BAR issue 24; SNG ANS 430

 

I kind of think they FADED away. Initially in 289 BCE when they were Mercenaries, they broke away and destroyed Messana and populated it for themselves. After a couple generations, the legacy and pride of the Mercenary group just faded away and the town was just absorbed as another town in Rome... My coins represent the beginning and the faded end of their entity...

 

Great coins everyone, thanks for sharing! Alas, I have no coins from the Mamertinoi.