Catalog
1 Obol Beast series
| Issuer | Populonia |
|---|---|
| Year | 501 BC - 450 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Two dolphins depicted in dynamic movement, swimming in opposite directions to form a circular composition within a beaded border. The dolphins are rendered in relief with carefully articulated bodies, their forms curving gracefully around the central field. This motif is characteristic of the early Populonian coinage of the Beast series and reflects the strong Etruscan maritime artistic tradition. |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Populonia stands as one of the few Etruscan cities to strike its own coinage, and among the earliest in the Italian peninsula to do so in silver. The Beast series obols belong to the city's archaic phase of production, when Etruscan metallurgical expertise — built on iron extraction from the mines of Elba and the Campigliese — translated directly into minting capacity. These are not derivative issues copying Greek prototypes out of convenience; Populonia developed an independent coinage tradition rooted in local commercial necessity, particularly trade through the Tyrrhenian port.