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

Metal
I
!
M Size
3
M
M
M
M
JR
M
M
M
4.1
3+
H
1
1 +
H
] +
1
H
Weight
111
11 -9
6-9
7-9
10-2
8-7
9-7
Head of Hermes, with winged hat, to r.
From the Pembroke Collection (398).
ITALY. 135
PETELIA.
R. A^30l3i. Owl to /•., looking adv.
Note.—This city seems to have been more anciently called Chone (Millingen, Num. de Tane. Italie,
p. 83). It was said to have been founded by Philoctetes, migrating from Thessaly, after his return
from Troy (Strabo, p. 254. Virgil, Jin. iii. 401) ; its strong position, at about twelve miles to the
north of Cotrone, and not far from the left bank of the Nesethus (now Neto), is now occupied by
Strongoli. Petelia was one of the earliest conquests of the Brettii, who fortified it, and perhaps
gave it the name Petelia, its coins being inscribed with this name only, and being all either of
Brettian or Roman times.
Veiled head of Geres to r. R. nETHAINilN. Jupiter, adv., fuhninating ; in left
hand, sceptre ; in field to I., star ; to /., I.
Head of Jupiter to r. ; behind, « • , vertically (quadrans). R. Same legend
in two lines ; between them, Jupiter, striding and fulminating, to r. ; in left
hand, sceptre ; in field to I., rudder.
Bearded, helmeted head to r. ; behind, • (uncia). R. Same legend ; Victory,
standing to I. ; in field, a mon., below which, P.
PHISTELIA CampanijE.
Youthful head, with radiating hair (Apollo?), adv. R. 8I^TUVI[^]. Andro-
the B. M.
morphous bull to I. ; below, dolphin. — Electrotype from
Note.—The resemblance of this didrachmon to those of the principal Greek cities of Campania, and •
of the following oboli to those of AUiba, leaves no doubt that Phistelia, in Oscan Phistluis, was a
Campanian city, founded probably by the Tyrrheni, when they were masters of great part of this
country, and of the sea. The symbols indicate a maritime site, and a district fertile in grain ; and
the andromorphous bull, a river. The town, therefore, was probably situated between Cumae and
the Vulturnus, at the exit of one of the rivers which cross the Campanian plain, and enter the sea in
that interval of the sea-shore ; either at the Foce di Licola, or the Foce di Patria, or at another
foce between the latter and the Voltomo. The course of waters, however, in this plain, has been so
often changed by the alternate effects of ai-t and nature, that the exact site of Phistelia can only be
determined by tracing the oboli, which are very numerous, to the place where they are generally
found.
Youthful head, adv. towards r., the right ear only appearing — the hair in formal ringlets,
not reaching below the forehead, ft. ilV>lT^i8. Grain of barley, between
dolphin and acrostolium.
Five others; average weight, 10*1 grains.
[*]ISTEAIA. Same type. ft. ^IVvlT^IS. Same — type. (Broken.)
Note.—This double legend indicates a mixed population of Greek and Italian origin.
Beardless head, with radiating hair (Apollo),
adv. ft. Lion, stepping to r. ; his
hind quarter transfixed with lance ; below, serpent to r.
Same ft. type. Lion to I., with right foot raised ; below, serpent to I.
Two others similar, medium weight, 8'9.
but over the lion, star.
Another similar ;
Another similar ;
with ribbons.
the lion looking back at Phrygian cap or helmet ; below, thyrsus
Note.—The similarity
in style, size, and weight, between these six anepigraph oboli, and those
and this
inscribed with the name of the city, leave little doubt, that they all belong to the same place ;
receives the strongest confirmation in the resemblance of the obverses to that of the didrachmon :
in all the same harsh features are remarkable.