After two months on the day since I won this amazing coin over at the Roma XVIII marathon auction, it is at last in my hands. I'm extremely happy, excited and proud to be able to add a second Marsic coin minted during the Social War to the collection. As icing on the cake it also has great provenance, and the coin is published in Alberto Campanas work on the coinage. The eight standing soldiers on the reverse most likely represent eight of the tribes that took part in the conflict, the Marsi, Picentines, Paeligni, Marrucini, Vestini, Frentani, Samnites and Hirpini. The legend behind the obverse bust of Italia is engraved in latin, contrary to the Italia/Bull type that has "Italia" engraved in oscan. The reason behind this most likely derives in the fact that some tribes were latin speaking, while others spoke oscan in the southern parts of Italy. It feels great to now have one of each type to be able to show these linguistic differences present on the Social War coinage. The Social War. Coinage of the Marsic Confederation. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.64 g, 6h). Corfinium mint. Struck 90 BC. Obverse: Laureate head of Italia left, ITALIA upwards behind. Reverse: Oath-taking scene: Youth kneeling by standard, holding pig at which eight soldiers (four on each side) point their swords, C in exergue. Reference: Campana 63i (this coin), D36/R54. Provenance: Ex Roma Numismatics, Auction XVIII (29 September 2019), lot 842; Ex Baldwin's Auctions Ltd - M&M Numismatics Ltd - Italo Vecchi Ltd, The New York Sale I (3 December 1998), lot 4; Ex 'R. J. Graham' (Paul Tinchant) Collection, J. Schulman, Auction 243 (8 June 1966), lot 1400. Published in A. Campana, La monetazione degli insorti Italici durante la guerra sociale 91-87 A.C. (Modena, 1987) "A new era of violence and conflict visited the Republic when in 91 B.C. Marcus Livius Drusus, a new Tribune with ideas much like the Gracchi brothers, acted as advocate for the urban and rural poor and the indigenous Italian peoples. Not only did he double the size of the senate by promoting 300 leading equites, but he tried to modify grain laws and to address old grievances over land distribution and eligibility for citizenship. Drusus' actions aroused such anger that he was murdered before his term had ended. It was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back, and the response among Rome’s Italian allies – who for decades had petitioned fruitlessly for improved status – was to break into revolt. The rebels comprised several Italian tribes, with the Marsi and the Samnites assuming leading roles in what came to be known as the Social War (91-87 B.C.). The capital of their breakaway state was Corfinium, where the rebels established a parallel system modeled on the institutions of the Republic, complete with a senate, consuls and praetors, and the prerogative to issue coins. After a faltering start, the Romans gained traction under the military leadership of Gaius Marius and Lucius Julius Caesar. None the less, the war was costly and destructive, and Caesar hoped hostilities would end when, in 90, he instituted the lex Iulia. The law granted full citizenship to Italian allies who were not actively engaged in making war on Rome. Though it represented progress, not every Italian insurgent was prepared to cease hostilities, and the war continued. Even with extraordinary generals such as Marius, Sulla and Gnaeus Pompey winning victories for the Republic, the war was so burdensome that leaders did not want to pursue it to the bitter end. Romans had been forced to raise more legions than at any time since the invasion of Hannibal, they struck more denarii in 90 than in any other year of the Republic, and from 89 to 87 silver was in such short supply that the purity of the denarius was reduced to slightly less than 95%. Perhaps the deciding factor, however, was a problem far from Italy: the Pontic King Mithradates VI was taking advantage of Rome’s distraction to expand his territories. In the darkest hour of the First Mithradatic War (89-85), Mithradates coordinated the murder in a single night of some 80,000 Romans in Asia Minor, and led an invasion of the province of Asia. With this tremendous concern, the Romans finally met the demands of the rebels for the complete enfranchisement of Italy – a promise that still required another eighteen years to fulfill. "
Congrats! Some coins are worth the wait. A couple of months is frustrating, but a coin like that in hand is hard to beat! They do not surface in that condition often. I waited about 2 - 4 years before I found an AA weight (1 As) I could afford. The 6 week wait was fine.
Congrats, @Michael Stolt ! Welcome to the Marsic Club! Yours is a gorgeous coin... well done! MARSIC CONFEDERATION: Marsic Confederation denarius 89 BCE Italia-Italia seated shields victory Corfinium Campana retro B 105 HN Italy 412a Sear 228 Rare Marsic Confederation denarius 90-88 BCE Italia-Corfinium Oath Ceremony over pig Sear 227 SCARCE Marsic denarius 89 BCE Bovianum-Asernia-Samnia HN Italy 407 Sear 230 SCARCE
Thank you! I agree, I don't mind waiting, whether it be for a specific type to show up in desirable grade and style or just wait for a coin to be shipped. Longest wait so far has been about 5 month for a fleet coinage sestertius that needed export papers from Italy.
So cool to see THREE denarii of the Marsic Oath Scene. And, @Carthago is pulling his punches. He has some KILLER coins from the Bellum Sociale.
The weight is 327.7 grams or right on the "standard" weight of 327.45 grams. It is 32.8 mm tall by 42.3 mm diameter. Bendall's table calls these markings Roman. I think this means the date could be 100 BC to 300 AD. I would like to have a better understanding of how to date scale weights.
Congratulations on the wonderful denarius of the Marsic Confederation @Michael Stolt that is one gorgeous coin. The Social War is one of my favorite periods of Roman history.
Wow - great coin @Michael Stolt, add me to the list of jealous (impressive coins from @Alegandron & @Carthago, too) I have no Marsic coins, but I have several RRs from the year 90 BC, this quinarius, a favorite: Roman Republic, Q. Titius, AR Quinarius, 90 BC, Obv: Draped bust of Victory right Rev: Pegasus prancing right; below, Q·TITI Ref: Babelon Titia 3, Crawford 341/3
Oh that's a pretty one. I have been on the hunt for a good specimen of a Titia quinarius for a long time (and will probably have to wait a long time before one shows up). I do have the Piso quinarius from 90 BC in excellent condition L. Piso Frugi. 90 BC. AR Quinarius (14mm, 2.16 g). Rome mint. Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right, club (control mark) in left field. Reverse: Victory advancing right, holding wreath and palm-branch, L PI - SO across fields, FRVGI in exergue. Reference: Crawford 340/2e Provenance: Naville Numismatics, Auction 42 (22 July 2018), lot 422. Ex Sternberg Auction 18 (20 November 1986), lot 323.
My newest and current favorite Marsic denarius. Campana 1, one of the scarcer Social War denarii. All I have are the vendor's pictures. Phil Davis
