Three Rare Issues of the Social War

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 588. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

The Social War. Coinage of the Marsic Confederation. 90-88 BC. AR Denarius (3.55 g, 5h). Corfinium mint. Series 3a. Laureate head of Italia left, wearing earring and pearl necklace, two locks of hair falling down neck / IIL in exergue, youth kneeling facing in front of signum with flag, holding pig right at which eight soldiers (four on each side) point their swords. Cf. Campana 7-34 var. (number in exergue); Sydenham 629; Kestner -; cf. BMCRR Social War 43-47 var. (same). EF, underlying luster, minor porosity, light scrape on central reverse. Very rare.

The revolt of Rome's Italian allies (socii, hence ‘Social War’) broke out toward the close of the year 91 BC and was the culmination of longstanding grievances occasioned by the Senate's inept handling of foreign relations. The Marsi were especially prominent in this movement, hence the name ‘Marsic Confederation’ which is often applied to the rebel state. The main fighting was in the years 90-89 BC and the rebellion assumed alarming proportions when both consuls for 90 BC were defeated by rebel armies. Rome appeared to be in serious danger of defeat, but the movement collapsed as suddenly as it had begun. The victory was achieved largely through the political concession of granting Roman citizenship to the enemy. Thereafter, all of Italy south of the Po was united by this common bond. The coinage of the Marsic Confederation is of great interest, consisting principally of silver denarii, some of which bear the names of the rebel generals.