Lot 1602

Description

Italy, Campania, Cumae, (c.420-380 B.C.), silver nomos, stater or didrachm, (6.94 grams), obv. head of female (nymph) to right, with distinctive die crack before forehead, rev. mussel hinge to left, corn-grain above, no traces of legend around, (cf.S.290 [Å“325], Rutter Group 16, No.160 [obv. die 120, rev. die 147], SNG Cop.364 [same dies], SNG ANS 243-4 [same obverse die]). Flaw in edge, at 9.00, otherwise fine and very scarce.

Most examples of this period which come from this mint are worn coins. Rutter records five examples only from this die combination. Cumae (modern Cuma) was the first Greek colony on the mainland of Italy (Magna Graecia) according to Strabo, it is an ancient city located about 12 miles (19 km) west of Naples. Cumae founded a number of colonies and grew to be a great power. It repulsed Etruscan and Umbrian attacks, but fell in the late 5th cent. BC to the Samnites. Cumae supported Rome in the second century BC and adopted Roman culture which lead ultimately to its inhabitants becoming Roman citizens.