Summary

Sextans issued by City of Luceria, Apulia, Italy, Ancient Greek States, circa 210 BC
Minted by Luceria

Obverse Description

Head of the Greek goddess Dione facing right laureate and wearing a viel. Behind, two dots (representing the denomination Sextans)

Reverse Description

A scallop shell with hinge down (BM catalogue calls it a cockle shell) in exergue (largely off the flan only the tops of letters can be seen) LVCERI

Edge Description

Plain

Significance

The obverse of the coin depicts the Greek goddess Dione who was the mother of Aphrodite in Homer's Illiad (Book V). The reverse depicts a scallop or cockle shell, an image traditionally employed on coins of the sextans denomination by Luceria (see BMC 14 and 43 ). Luceria was a Latin Colony of Rome from about 315 BC. A mint was established in the city during the Second Punic War (218-201 BC) initially casting aes grave pieces on the Roman libral standard. The economic impact of the war with Hannibal saw the amount of copper in the coins decrease and eventually a switch from casting to striking technology. This coin is struck with local designs, suggesting local circulation, the mint also struck coins with standard Roman types for wider circulation. It's copper content was on the sextantal standard, though to have been adopted in 211 BC.

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