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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Parthicus, post: 2971649, member: 81887&quot;]Here&#039;s my first coin purchased in 2018:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]729121[/ATTACH] </p><p>Bruttium, Brettian League (c.211-208 BC).&nbsp; AE Unit (obol?) (22mm, 8.3g).&nbsp; Obverse: Bust of Zeus right.&nbsp; Reverse: Eagle standing on lightning-bolt facing left, cornucopia before, legend BPET-TIWN around.&nbsp; SNG ANS 44ff, Sear GCV 704.&nbsp; Purchased from John Anthony auction.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bruttium refers to the &quot;boot-tip&quot; region of southern Italy, the area now called Calabria.&nbsp; (Confusingly, &quot;Calabria&quot; was the ancient name for the &quot;heel&quot; of Italy, the region now called Apulia.)&nbsp; A number of Greek colony-cities were established along the coast starting in the eight and seventh centuries BC, while the mountainous interior region remained sparsely populated.&nbsp; In the fourth century BC the Bruttii started to move into the area from the neighboring region of Lucania.&nbsp; The Bruttii were apparently a mixed group of former slaves and other fugitives who were fleeing strife in their homeland; the name Bruttii meant &quot;rebels&quot; in the Lucanian language.&nbsp; The Bruttii conquered the mountainous highlands (probably mixing with the local inhabitants) and over a period of decades took over the cities.&nbsp; They fought an invasion by Agathocles of Syracuse in the 290s BC and sent troops to help Pyrrhus in his wars against the Romans.&nbsp; After the final defeat of Pyrrhus, the Romans were able to compel the Bruttii to unfavorable peace terms.&nbsp; This included giving Rome half the forest of Sila, which produced valuable timber and whose trees also yielded excellent pitch, so vital in making seaworthy ships.&nbsp; During the Second Punic War (218-201 BC), the Bruttians decided to ally themselves to Carthage.&nbsp; Hanno, one of Hannibal&#039;s subordinates, made his base in Bruttian territory, and after the death of Hasdrubal Hannibal himself spent four years in Bruttium, where the mountainous terrain made it impossible for the Roman legions to fight effectively.&nbsp; After the defeat of Hannibal Bruttium was forced back into the Roman orbit; several Roman colonies were established in the territory, and the area was absorbed into the broader Roman world and the Bruttii ceased to be a distinct people.</p><p><br /></p><p>This coin follows absolutely standard Hellenistic designs with no local &quot;color&quot;, though the execution is well done and this is a nicely preserved specimen.&nbsp; I won this coin from John Anthony&#039;s auction for $40, which is an excellent price for this coin in this condition.&nbsp; I bought it for its historical interest and relevance to the Punic Wars, but also a more personal reason.&nbsp; Some of my ancestors on my father&#039;s side came from Bruttium/Calabria, so there is a decent chance that at least some of my ancient ancestors would have handled this coin or others of its type.&nbsp; Post your Bruttian coins, or whatever else is related.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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