Ancients: ETRURIA. Populonia. Ca. 3rd century BC. AV 25-asses (13mm, 1.47 gm). NGC MS 5/5 - 3/5, brushed....

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Ferocious Uniface Etruscan Gold

ETRURIA. Populonia. Ca. 3rd century BC. AV 25-asses (13mm, 1.47 gm). NGC MS 5/5 - 3/5, brushed. Head of roaring lion right with protruding tongue; X-XV (mark of value) below and left, dotted border / Blank reverse. HN Italy 128. SNG Copenhagen 36. SNG ANS 2. Excellently centered and strongly struck on a harvest wheat flan with wisps of orange toning. A handsome example of this attractive early issue.

From the Wetmore Collection of Gold and Electrum. Ex Marian A. Sinton Collection (Triton III, 30 November 1999), lot 17; Stevenson Collection (Classical Numismatic Group, Auction XXVI, 11 June 1993), lot 2.

Located on the western coast of Italy, the ancient Etruscan city of Populonia held a unique position in the annals of numismatics. Famed as the only Etruscan city-state with direct access to the sea, Populonia prospered as a pivotal center of iron production and trade, attributes inextricably linked to its distinctive coinage. As the largest and most important mint in Etruscan society during the late 5th and 4th centuries BC, it produced a considerable volume of coins, primarily struck in silver and bronze, but also a small quantity in gold. The silver coinage, often featuring depictions of facing heads of divinities or mythical creatures on the obverse, was drawn mainly from the Greek drachma system, while the bronze coinage showcased imagery of animals, local symbology, or mythological narratives inspired intrinsically from Etruscan culture.

Renowned in the ancient world for its unique approach to numismatics, Populonia crafted an intriguing variety of uniface or single-sided coinage, including rarely seen ones in gold. In contrast to the more prevalent silver and bronze coins, these gold uniface coins were evidently minted in much smaller quantities, suggesting they were likely used for significant transactions or ceremonial purposes.

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