Pedigreed to 1922

Triton XX, Lot: 2. Estimate $5000. Sold for $8500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ETRURIA, Populonia. 3rd century BC. AR 20 Asses (19.5mm, 8.30 g). Diademed facing head of Metus; X X (mark of value) below / Traces of uncertain legend. EC Group XII, Series 37, 67 (O1/R1) = Vecchi II, 13.16 (this coin); HN Italy 142; SNG ANS 79; BMC 28; Hirsch 14; McClean 129; Norman Davis 1; Pozzi 39 (all from the same dies). EF, toned. Excellent metal.

Ex A. Hess 253 (8 March 1983), lot 2; Naville IV (17 June 1922), lot 7.

The reverse die of this series is thought to have been inscribed with the ethnic POPLV, in Etruscan, but none of the extant examples are clear enough to be certain. In any event, the die was apparently used long after the legend was worn off, such that most examples, as this, only display vague traces of it.