ETRURIA. Populonia. Ca. 300-250 BC. PB lead 20 units (19mm, 6.47 gm). VG. Head of Heracles facing, wearing lion skin headdress / Blank. HGC 1, -, cf. 115 (AR). 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. Renowned in the ancient world for its unique approach to numismatics, Populonia crafted an intriguing variety of uniface or single-sided 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. HID09801242017 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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