~ Circa 2nd Century BC Spanish Arse Coin #1 ~
This coin was used in the city of Saguntum/ Arse (Sagunto), the capital of Iberian ethnos of Edetans in Spain.
The Obverse is the Scallop shell.
The Reverse depicts the Dolphin swimming right, two dots above it and underlined Iberian legend.
Historical Background
Arse (modern Saguntum, now Sagunto near Valencia, Spain) was an important Iberian city of the Edetani tribe, strategically located on the Mediterranean coast.
It gained fame for its heroic resistance to Hannibal in 219 BC, an event that directly triggered the Second Punic War (218–201 BC) between Carthage and Rome.
According to Roman historians (Livy, Polybius), Arse was a Roman-aligned city. When Hannibal besieged and destroyed it despite its alliance with Rome, the act became the casus belli that launched decades of warfare across Spain and Italy.
After the war, Rome rebuilt Saguntum, which retained its Iberian identity but gradually became Romanized during the 2nd century BC.
~ Dimensions ~
The diameter of the coin is 15 mm and it weighs 3.6 grams.
~ Condition ~
The coin is in good condition with some wear. Please refer to the pictures.
