Greek Bronzes 3, NO RESERVE

Green bronze to the left...

LUCANIA Paestum (Poseidonia)

AE Semis, 16 mm, 4.2 g, 2nd to 1st century BC

Obv: Female head right.

Rev: Trophy of arms: round shield at centre, helmet above, on a frame

Large brown bronze....

SICILY, Messana The Mamertinoi

AE Pentonkion, 27 mm, 8.4g, 220 to 200 BC

Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right.

Rev: ΜΑΜΕΡΤΙΝΩΝ, helmeted warrior advancing right, holding shield and spear; Π (mark of value) to right.

CNS I, 41; HGC 2, 853; SNG ANS 441; Sear 1144.

Some obverse dies of this issue place a control symbol behind the head, a star, crescent, or cornucopia, which fixes the sub-variety; none is legible here. This is the standard warrior-reverse pentonkion, distinct from the Ares and horseman type. The advancing warrior with shield and spear is the fighting man the Mamertini built their identity on, an Oscan mercenary band settled at Messana by force of arms.

The last coin I only have weighed and measured (will include).

Check out my other auctions. I'll be running a good number of $1 starts with no reserve. In particular I will be running other Greek bronzes of the Mamertinoi set.