Summary

Denarius, Issued by Ancient Roman Republic, 91-88 BC
Social War issue of the Italian allies of the Marsic confederation, Marsi, Peligni, Piceni, Vestini, Samnites, Frentani, Marrucini, and Lucani.
Mint not recorded

Obverse Description

Laureate head of Italia facing left; behind the Oscan legend "Italia'; border of dots

Reverse Description

Helmeted soldier standing facing, looking to the right; he holds an inverted spear in his right hand; at right, recumbent bull; border of dots

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

'the obverse shows a laureate female head, wearing a single-drop earring and single strand necklace. This jewellery designates the figure as female, making impossible M Crawford's identification of her as Apollo ... By developing a unique patroness for the league and differentiating her strongly from Roma, the Italians made a clear statement of their separate identity. An examination of the Italian coinage indicates that they valued their league as more than an ad hoc military alliance, formed opportunistically to fight Rome. Rather, producing the coins and using the personified Italia suggest they believed that they had forged a new and enduring collective identity. ' Tweedie, p. 67.

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