Campania, Capua
Semuncia circa 215-212, Æ 5.58 g. Diademed and draped bust of Juno r., with sceptre over l. shoulder. Rev. KAPV in Oscan characters Two xoana draped; to l., triple knot. Sambon 1038. Giard 17. SNG ANS 215. Historia Numorum Italy 495.
Rare. A very attractive enamel-like dark green patina and extremely fine

Ex NAC 8, 1995, 316 and NAC 59, 2011, 483 sales. From the A.D.M. collection.
This extremely attractive bronze coin, probably valued as a semuncia, was struck by Capua in the dark days of the Second Punic War (218-201 BC). Following the shattering defeat of the Romans at the Battle of Cannae (216 BC), Capua sought recognition as Rome’s equal. When the defeated Romans refused to agree, the Capuans opened the gates of their city to Hannibal and the Carthaginians with the intention of becoming the replacement Italian superpower once Rome was destroyed. Capua became an important base for Hannibal in Italy and served as his secure winter quarters for years until at last it was besieged and captured by the Roman proconsul Q. Fulvius Flaccus in 211 BC. Once the city had fallen, many nobles of Capua were executed or imprisoned for counseling the secession of the city from the Roman alliance and the common people were deported to other cities. Capua was given over to a foreign population and placed under a Roman prefect while the territory of the city was absorbed by the Roman state. While the obverse clearly depicts the goddess Juno, it is unclear who is represented by the two xoana (wooden cult images) depicted on the reverse. As there are two it might be tempting to think of the Dioscuri, but this seems unlikely as the xoana appear to be female with veiled heads. A legend written in the Oscan script names the city.