Tiberius AE Semis from Paestum with "P. S. S. C." - Took Me Hours to Figure Out...

This coin was part of a big lot of miscellaneous ancients I bought last December. It was in my box of unidentified/unidentifiable stuff that I finally got around to this morning. Back in December I thought it might be Icini, or some other semi-barbarous issue from Gaul or the Danube area - this was completely barking up the wrong tree.



So today I started out guessing along a different path - that bust looks like a Provincial Augustus or Tiberius? Spanish Provincial? Probably Victory/Nike on reverse with a clear "ICINI". After several Google image searches, some silver started coming up that looked like mine, and after a couple hours I found mine and started laughing maniacally, alarming the cat and my Better Half. I am starting to wonder if I am getting addicted to this kind of amateur coin sleuthing. It sure is fun when it works out.

Although it is small, off-center and ugly, it is kind of interesting, I think:

Tiberius Æ Semis
L. Licinius, Duovir
Paestum-Poseidonia, Lucania
(c. 14-37 A.D.)
[P]-S -C across fields, laureate head right / [L] LICINI(VS) II[VIR], Victory walking right, holding wreath and palm branch.
RPC 613; Crawford 6; SNG Cop 1386. (var. rev. leg.)
(3.81 grams / 14 mm)

They are a bit scarce; I found three examples, 2 on FORVM and one on Wildwinds. Mine lacks the VS at the end of LICINIVS, which I assume is a variation? Or mine is a fake of some sort, presumably ancient.

On the obverse, the weird S hanging out in the middle of the right field (and a faintly visible C below) is part of a "P.S.S.C" inscription that was explained on Wikipedia (sometimes Wikipedia has some pretty good
coin info):

"The coins of Paestum begin about 550 BC. These early issues were perhaps all festival coins. They usually have Poseidon with upraised trident. Issues continue until the reign of Tiberius. For unknown reasons Paestum alone of all the smaller Italian mints, was allowed to continue minting bronze coins by a Senatorial decree of about 89 BC, after this had been centralized. Later coins carry "P. S. S. C.", standing for "Paesti Signatum Senatus Consulto" to reflect this.[29]"

Any other information on this coin, or other examples, would be appreciated. Also, does anybody know why this is listed in Crawford? Is it Roman Republican or Roman Provincial? I am very unfamiliar with this
kind of material. I have access to Crawford but it is not immediately at hand.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I have no idea why so much of my post is crossed out - I tried to edit & reformat it a couple of times, but it didn't work. Sorry. I'm a digital klutz. If a Moderator could un-cross out the crossed-out part, that'd be wonderful.

 

There is HTML code in the body, whether by you or a glitch, as the strike-out is not one of the general editing codes. You can click on edit and then click on the editing symbol farthest right with the Y , that is the code that can do extreme editing, but seldom ever used. If I messed with it, the formating, can disappear. I can delete the whole post if you want to copy it first and then play with the fonts, or leave this way and you can just add "ignore the strike through" , your choice Jim

 

Thank you! I'm sure the HTML code came from something I picked up during my reckless cutting-n-pasting. I was able to delete the cross-out following your guidance. I appreciate it.

 

These coins from Paestum have been traditionally referred to as Greek, but as it is an Italian issue of Paestum (Poseidona) from the Republican period this allows it to be classed as Provincial, also Crawford refers to it as "subssidiary coinage" so while not a province it was not official Roman coinage as there was no Imperial coinage at the time. MAGNA GRECIA
LUCANIA
PAESTUM (Poseidonia)
Bronze semis. Circa 90-44 BC.
15mm, 3.41gm.
Obv: Female head right; MINEIA • M • F behind.
Rev: Two-story building; P-S flanking upper floor, S-C flanking lower.
Crawford, Paestum 38b; HN Italy 1258.
Rare.

 

Thank you, Ancient Aussie for that clarification/explanation on the Republic/Provincial aspect of this coinage.

I like that example you shared - I wonder what that building is? In a way it reminds me of a sort of a proto-campgate LRB type. Very interesting.