Marsic Confederation

CNG 108, Lot: 487. Estimate $5000. Sold for $3750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

The Social War. Coinage of the Marsic Confederation. 90-88 BC. AR Denarius (19mm, 3.62 g, 11h). Mint in Campania; C. Papius C.f. Mutilus, moneyer. Draped bust of Mars right, wearing slight beard and crested Corinthian helmet with plume at side; viteliú (in Oscan) to left; behind neck, X (mark of value) with pellet above and below / Oath-taking scene: youth kneeling left, head right, holding pig, at which four standing soldiers (two on each side) point their swords; c. paapii. c. (in Oscan) in exergue. Campana, Monetazione, Series 4, 84i (D53/R73 – this coin); Sydenham 637; HN Italy 425; BMCRR Social War 35-6; RBW 1225. EF, deep cabinet tone, hairline flan crack, small chip at reverse edge. Rare.

From the Jonathan P. Rosen Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 83 (20 May 2015), lot 318 (hammer CHF 7500); Münzen und Medaillen AG 52 (19 June 1975), lot 332.

The revolt of Rome's Italian allies (socii, hence ‘Social War’) broke out toward the end of 91 BC and was the culmination of long standing grievances occasioned by the Senate's inept handling of Rome’s relations with its longtime Italian allies, who sought equal rights with Roman citizens. 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 and was thus forced to grant Roman citizenship to the rebels. 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. This specimen records a certain Caius Papius [Mutilus], consul of the rebel state and commander of the Samnite forces. Mutilus was defeated by Sulla in the later stages of the war and his subsequent history is uncertain, though it is possible that he survived to extreme old age when a wealthy man described as “a leader of the Samnites during the Social War” was proscribed by the Triumviral government in 43 BC (cf. Appian, Civil Wars, iv. 25). The reverse depicts an oath-taking scene symbolizing the unity of the confederation of Italian states. Interestingly, the entire coin type is closely modeled on an issue of the moneyer Tiberius Veturius whose coinage is dated by Crawford (234/1) to circa 137 BC. Veturius' reverse shows two soldiers taking the oath and is generally interpreted as referring to an agreement made with the Samnites in 321 BC (treaty of Caudium). This would have made it especially appropriate for an issue of the Samnite leader in the Social War.