THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

THE COLLECTOR SERIES
resting, and, on the whole, beautiful ; it is of two
classes—the cast pieces, of larger size and thick fabric,
and the struck pieces, of later date. The types are
numerous, and often resemble those on the coins in the
superior metals ; and all possess a strong interest in
connection with the obscure cults of this region.
The other leading divisions are :
Umbria.—The coinage is wholly of bronze, and largely
consists at first of the Roman ces. Some of the money
is almond-shaped or oblong, and it is chieflv cast. The
chief centres were Ariminum (Rimini),Iguvium(Gubbio),
and Tuder (Todi).
Picenum.—Chief centres : Ancona, Ascoli, Fermo,
and Hadria. The first place, owing its name to its
situation at a bend of the coast—whence on its coins we
get a bent arm—was an important depot for Illyrian
trade and the seat of a temple of Aphrodite. It was of
Syracusan origin. The known coins of this region seem
to be chiefly Roman of the third century b.c. and later.
Vestixi.—Alliance-coins with Rome, b.c. 301-268.
Imitations of the money of Umbria and Picenum.
Latium.—The cast Roman ass and its divisions, and
struck coins of various towns, 4th-3rd century b.c.
Some of those of Cora have the Campanian bull crowned,
and of Signia the head of Silenos and a boar's head.
Samnium.—No money prior to the Roman coinage
about the third century b.c. The district was long
held by village communities, which may be supposed
to have employed the currencies of their neighbours.
Feentani.—Money of the third century b.c in retro-
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