Lot 3580

Description

Italy, Bruttium, The Brettii, (c.215-205 B.C.), silver half nomos (2.32 g), Second Punic War issue, obv. helmeted head of Athena right, helmet decorated with a griffin a small owl to left, rev. eagle standing left on thunderbolt with spread wings, rudder behind, BPETTI**W[N] before, (S.-, Scheu p.45 S1, SNG Lloyd 552, SNG Cop. 1629). Extremely fine, toned and very rare.

Ex CNG Triton 1, December 2-3, 1997 (lot 148) with ticket, previously from Munzen und Medaillen Auction 54, 26 October 1978 (lot 68); Hess-Leu Auktion 28, 5-6 May 1965 (lot 35; Bement Collection, Naville Auction V, 28 January 1924 (lot 262).
The Brettii were an indigenous Italian people who emerged in southern Italy in the mid-fourth century BC. Ancient authors describe them as a group of revolted slaves and miscellaneous fugitives who came together after seeking refuge in the rugged mountains of the area. Nonetheless, it is more likely that most of these people were native Oenotrians or Pelasgians who had escaped from domination by the Greek cities and other native groups to the north. By the mid-third century BC, this disparate congregation of people, now known as the Brettii, had become the predominant power over most of Italy south of the river Laos, including the important mints of Consentia, Medma, Hipponium, Terina, and Thurium (Diod. XVI.15; Strabo VI). This rare silver reduced half-nomos with a fine pedigree back to the Bement Collection bears some similarity to the contemporary issues of the Syracusan Fifth Republic.