Obulco — modern Porcuna in the province of Jaén — was among the most prolific minting cities in the ancient Iberian Peninsula, producing a large bronze coinage that circulated heavily across the upper Guadalquivir valley. The city fell under Roman control following Scipio Africanus's campaigns in Hispania, and this issue dates to precisely that transition period, when local Turdetani civic structures were permitted to continue operating their mint under Roman supervision as a pragmatic concession to regional stability.
At 47 grams, these are unusually heavy pieces even by Iberian bronze standards. Obulco's issues are notable for their bilingual inscriptions in both Latin and Iberian script — a genuinely rare feature in the western provinces at this date.
Obulco — modern Porcuna in the province of Jaén — was among the most prolific minting cities in the ancient Iberian Peninsula, producing a large bronze coinage that circulated heavily across the upper Guadalquivir valley. The city fell under Roman control following Scipio Africanus's campaigns in Hispania, and this issue dates to precisely that transition period, when local Turdetani civic structures were permitted to continue operating their mint under Roman supervision as a pragmatic concession to regional stability.
At 47 grams, these are unusually heavy pieces even by Iberian bronze standards. Obulco's issues are notable for their bilingual inscriptions in both Latin and Iberian script — a genuinely rare feature in the western provinces at this date.