Numismata hellenica: a catalogue of Greek coins; with notes, a map ...

Metal Size Weight
M M
M
M
M
M
M
M
M M
M
6+
5-
6
5i
ITALY. 127
who had been left at Locri by P. Scipio, after expelling the enemy from thence in the second Punic
war (B.C. 205). The heaviest accusation against Pleminius was that he had plundered the temple of
Proserpine. Seven years before, Pyrrhus had committed the same sacrilege ; but for this (said the
Locrenses) he had been punished by a storm, which wrecked his vessels and threw them back upon
the coast, and thus caused him to restore the plunder (Liv. 29, 18).
Another.
Female head crowned with ears of corn to I. (Ceres) ; behind, ear of corn. R. Pallas
standing to I. ; her right hand resting on spear ; left on shield ; in field to I.,
AOKPilN ; to r., star ; below which, cornucopise.
Heads of the Dioscuri to r. B. Jupiter seated to I. ; right hand extended ; left
resting on hasta ; in field to I., AOKPiiN ; to n, cornucopise.
Nate.—The Dioscuri were held in especial honour at Locri, and were supposed to have fought on
the side of the Locrenses in the battle of the Sagra, when, in union with the Khegini, they gained a
victory over an immensely superior force of Crotoniatae (Strabo, p. 2G1).
LUCANI.
NoU.— It is not surprising that the Lucani, who occupied
the interior of the south-western
extremity of Italy, surrounded as they were by Greek cities, should have adopted the arts and language
of Greece, or that the Brettii, who possessed the most compact portion of the Lucanian
territory, and that which had the largest proportion of sea coast, should have separated themselves
from the Lucani, and should have made a greater use than that people of the numismatic art. But
the coins of the two bear the strongest resemblance to each other, and are obviously of the same age,
namely, the latter end of the fourth and beginning of the third century B.C. It is not so easy as
in the instance of the Brettii to form an opinion as to where the coins of the Lucani were struck.
Possibly it was at Potentia, which preserves its ancient name, and where many ruins and inscriptions
attest the former importance of the place.
Head of Mars to I. R. AOYKANOM. Pallas, stepping to r., and holding shield
with both hands before her ; spear resting obliquely against her shoulder (same
type as BPETTliiN, p. 114, M 7). — Electrotypef rom the B. M.
Head of Ceres to l.\ behind, ear of corn. B. AOYKANOA- Jupiter fulminating
to r. ;
in left hand, sceptre.
Head of Hercules with lion's scalp to r. R. AYKIANQN. Pallas, with shield and
spear as before, to r. ; in field to r., head of wolf with open mouth to r.
Head of Jupiter to r. ; behind, spear-head. B. AYKIANSiN. Eagle with open
wings to ^., looking back.
LUCERIA Daunise.
Note.—
Luceria, now Lucera, stood at the entrance of the Apulian plains, which extend to the
shore of the Adriatic at Sipus and Salpe. It was one of the cities said to have been founded by
Diomedes ; hence the Minerva here worshipped was surnamed Ilias, and her temple contained some
KaKaia dvaBiifiaTa, illustrative of the origin of the city (Strab. p. 264, 284). The importance of
the situation of Luceria, caused it to be an object of contention between the Romans and Samnites ;
but, at length, in the year b. c. 314, it received a Roman colony.
Head of Minerva Ilias to r. ; above, • • • • • (quincunx). B- Wheel of eight
between them, LOVCERIA.
spokes ;
Another.
Another similar.
Head of Hercules, with lion's scalp, to r. ; behind, • • • • vertically (triens).
B- Quiver, club, and bow between the two ; latter, LOVCERI.
Head of Neptune to r. ; behind, • • • vertically (quadrans). B. Dolphin to r. ;
above it, trident ; below, LOVCERI.
Two others.