Second Punic War Drachms

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 1708. Estimate $1000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $2600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

GREEK. Magna Graecia & Sicily. AR Drachms of Bruttium, The Brettii. Includes: Circa 216-214 BC. Second Punic War issue. Diademed and draped bust of Nike right; control mark behind / River god Aisaros standing facing, crowning himself with wreath and holding scepter; to right, control mark. HN Italy 1963-4 (9) // Hera Lakinia right, wearing polos; control marks over shoulder / Zeus standing left, right foot on ionic capital, holding scepter; to left, control mark. HN Italy 1969. VF or better condition, with minor problems and find patina. LOT SOLD AS IS, NO RETURNS. Ten (10) coins in lot.

In the face of Hannibal's successes against Rome, the brettii allied themselves with Rome's enemy during the Second Punic War (Livy XXII. 61). In this conflict, the Brettians were completely invested in the alliance with Carthage, such that the entire region of Bruttium became a veritable Punic fortress, and it was during this war that the entire series of Brettian coinage was struck. As in the past, though, the Brettii had supported the losing side, and this time the Romans were determined to squash any further ability of the Brettians to threaten them. In the aftermath of Hannibal's defeat, the Romans subjugated Bruttium through annual military deployments and the establishment of three colonies, at Tempsa, Kroton, and Vibo Valentia (Livy XXXIV. 45 and XXXV. 40). Unlike other Italian populations that had been conquered by the Romans, the Brettii were also not admitted as Roman allies and could not serve in the Roman military (Appian, Annib. 61).