Roman Republic, Æ, Naples, c. 330-320, laureate head of Apollo right, rev. ROMAIWN, forepart of man-headed bull right, star on flank, 3.46g/3h (Craw. 1/1; Syd. 51; HN Italy 251). Very fine, earthy green patina, very rare (£1,500-2,000)

The inception of coinage for the great Roman nation was of remarkably humble origin. The mint responsible for this rare bronze, issued in the name of the Romans, would appear to be Neapolis at the time of the foedus aequum between that city and Rome in the opening stages of the Second Samnite War in 326. The Romaion issue fits comfortably in style and metrology with the prolific bronze Neapolitan issues of Neapolis dated to c. 325-320 (HN Italy 568-70). For an in-depth chronological analysis and bibliography of this remarkable issue, see M. Taliercio Mensitieri, 'Le emissioni romano-campane di bronzo', in La monetazione romano-campana, Atti Convegno X, Napoli 18-19 giugno 1993 [Rome 1998], pp.50-1. For the metrology of Neapolis, see M. Taliercio, 'Il bronzo di Neapolis', in La monetazione di Neapolis nella Campania antica, Atti Convegno VII del CISN, Napoli aprile 1980 [Naples 1986], pp.219-373, especially p.220, and A. Campana, 'A proposito dell'obolo di bronzo', in Panorama Numismatico 94 [1996], pp.12-16