I purchase this coin yesterday in the Heritage auction. I knew it was an old collection coin and I spent some time looking for it's pedigree before the auction without success. I bought the coin anyway and decided to review the Cahn Hess 1933 Haeberlin sale again right after the auction. Yep, the coin was in there but the plate and the catalogue number were mixed up so I missed it on the first pass. Now, to see if I can find where it's been since 1933..or even before! Oh, and also crack it out of the plastic. From Heritage: Bellum Sociale, Corfinium, 89 BC. Laureate head of Italia right, wearing pearl necklace; X below chin / Italia, seated left on stack of shields, holding scepter in right hand and sword in left, crowned by Victory who stands to left behind, C in left field, ITALIA in exergue. HN Italy 412b (same dies as illustrated specimen). Sydenham 624. BMCRR Social War 15. RCV I 229. Very rare! Well centered, perfectly struck and beautifully toned -- among the finest known specimens of this elusive type! NGC Choice AU ★ 5/5 - 5/5. Haeberlin plate The Marsic Confederation was an alliance of cities opposed to Rome during the Social War of 91-88 BC. Resulting from the Roman refusal to grant full citizenship to its Italian allies, the Confederation included Marsi, Peligni, Piceni, Vestini, Samnium, Frentani, Marrucini, and Lucani. The aims of the alliance are still debated centuries later, but at least some member cities intended to form an independent nation called Italia with its capital at Corfinium (modern day Abruzzo). Their coinage, modeled on the Roman denarius system, prominently depicted a female personification of Italia and oath-taking scenes reflecting the origins on the anti-Roman alliance. While the alliance was defeated on the battlefield, Rome eventually ended up enfranchising all of Italy, effectively acceding to the alliance's demands.
Wonderful! I'm curious to see if you can trace it back even further, and yes, by all means crack that baby out!
Wow! @Carthago , Nice capture! Beautiful piece! I now have a few from Bellum Sociale / Marsic Confederation. I will post them upon receipt in the near future. The Roman militarily won the war, but politically LOST the war as all demands by the Marsic Confederation were implemented! Unfortunately, the Samnites, some of Rome's most competent and brutal adversaries during 3 prior Samnite/Roman Wars were totally obliterated after the Social War!
great coin carthago, that coin has a neat style...definitely not a RR denarius hu? nice write up as well!
Excellent coin with a well-told story. I always appreciate CoinTalk coins more when they have the story told with them. Ancient coins connect us to ancient history and they all have a story; yours is one of the better historical types.
Pedigree work is one of the hardest things to do in numismatics. You have to go with your gut. One person can search for hours and find nothing, and another can look at a piece and go, "Hmm, did you check that 1924 Ratto sale? There's a few of this type in there." I think we see these things and sort of subconsciously file them away.
Great OP-winner, Carthago (congrats) ...... Italia is looking hot (sweet reverse) => oh, and great coin-sleuthing
I absolutely LOVE it @Carthago !! Especially since I have been searching (and drooling) over Italia types for quite some while now and have not been able to add even one to my collection. Congrats!!
