Nomos 1

SICILY, Mamertinoi. 270-220 BC. Hexas (Bronze, 8.64 g 11). ΑΡΕΟΣ Laureate head of youthful Ares to right; behind head, two pellets Rev. ΜΑΜΕΡΤΙΝΩΝ Athena standing at bay to right, holding transverse spear in her right hand and resting her left on shield set on the ground before her. CNS 21. SNG ANS 420-422. A beautiful piece, with a splendid head of Ares of very fine Hellenistic style, and with a very attractive, dark, olive-green patina. Extremely fine.

The Mamertines were Campanian mercenaries who had been hired by Agathokles of Syracuse. After his death in 289 they found themselves at loose ends; some returned home but others decided to stay on in Sicily. In an act of base treachery they took the city of Messana in 288, killing the men and dividing the women among themselves. They then began preying on all nearby cities and became serious pests in general, so much so that they were attacked by Hieron II of Syracuse. Hieron defeated them but was forced to withdraw when the Mamertines received aid from Carthage. Tiring of Carthaginian control, the Mamertines appealed to Rome: this action led to the First Punic War (264-241) in which Rome ultimately defeated Carthage and gained both naval superiority and control over most of Sicily. During this period the Mamertines disappeared, most being either killed or assimilated. Their coin types celebrated their martial qualities: on the obverse is Ares/Mars, god of war and on the reverse we have a fighting Athena.