Freeman & Sear - Mail Bid Sale 14
Lot: 101

ETRURIA. Val di Chiana. Ca. 208–207 BC. Ć 18 mm (4.68 
gm). Head of black African right / Elephant right with 
bell hanging from neck, Etruscan letter below. SNG ANS 
36. SNG Morcom 44. HN Italy 69. Rare. Lovely green 
patina. Some minor roughness. An attractive example of 
this desirable type. Very fine 

Commentary on this enigmatic issue has focused on the 
significance of the elephant, which appears to be Indian 
rather than African. This zoological observation seems 
to rule out a reference to the Carthaginian elephants 
and thus poses a challenge to dating this coin to the 
time of the Second Punic War. Yet E.S.G. Robinson, in NC 
1964, pp. 47–48, proposed an interpretation that 
overcomes these difficulties. He submitted that the 
association of the elephant with an African head, 
probably representing the animal’s driver, points to an 
African origin. Rather than dating the coin issue to the 
time of Hannibal’s invasion, Robinson drew attention to 
the disaffection of Rome’s Etruscan allies in 208–207, 
centered on the town of Arretium, and suggested that the 
coin types expressed the seditious hope that Hasdrubal 
would arrive to reinforce his brother. In these 
historical circumstances, the elephant was a symbol, 
perhaps copied from earlier coin types, rather than a 
portrayal from life. 

Estimated Value: $ 750 

  ... Lot 101 sold for high bid of $1295 [ $1489.25, or approx 1102.045 EUR, 744.625 GBP including the 15% buyers fee.] 


Freeman & Sear Mail Bid Sale 14 closed June 21st, 2007.

Re-used by permission of Freeman & Sear: www.freemanandsear.com