Iberian coins, which appeared in the Iberian Peninsula around the 3rd century BC, reflect a unique crossroads of cultures. These coins have a marked Greek influence in their origin, to a lesser extent Punic and, later, Roman, which makes them silent witnesses of a fascinating historical process. At NCV, we have experience in their classification and grading, and with this article, we intend to introduce them briefly.
Who were the Iberians?
The first question we should ask ourselves is: Who were the Iberians? The Iberians were the inhabitants of the east and south of the Iberian Peninsula. The Greeks called Iberians to the people who lived in the basin of the river Iber (as the Ebro was known in Antiquity), to later extend this name to all the peoples of the eastern and southeastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. This denomination distinguished them from the interior peoples, whose culture and customs were different. Their numismatic legacy is invaluable for understanding their society and economy.
The origins
As we have seen in other articles in this blog, the first coins minted in the Iberian Peninsula were those of the Greek colonies of Emporion (now Empurias) and Rhode (now Roses).
Well, it turns out that Greek coins also circulated among the Iberian tribes.
The appearance of Iberian coins in the middle of the 3rd century B.C. was mainly due to the commercial contacts that the Iberian tribes maintained with Emporion, Massalia, Alalia, Velia, or Corsica.
In Gadir (Cadiz), anepigraphic coins (without description or legend) were also minted in bronze and, later, silver.
Thus, it is not strange that the first Iberian mints appear in the territories with more contact with the Greeks and Punics, such as Arse (Sagunto), Saitabi (Xátiva), Kese (Tarragona) or Kastilo (Linares).
The mints of Arse and Saitibi, more influenced by the Greeks, were made in silver, while those of Kese and Kastilo, more influenced by the Punics, were made in bronze.
The first Iberian coins
The Iberians took up the Greek legacy, adopting their know-how. They were inspired by their pottery, their sculpture and, of course, their coinage.
They began by copying the silver drachms of Emporion, sometimes even keeping the legend in Greek. But, little by little, the Iberian characters appeared.
The first Iberian coins, a significant historical milestone, emerged in the context of the Roman conquest. Notably, cities such as Emporion played a pioneering role in the minting of These coins, a fact that inspires appreciation for their historical significance.
The first Greek coins in the Peninsula date from 470 BC and relate to the crisis following the battle of Alalia, a naval battle between the Carthaginians, allied with the Etruscans, and the Greeks of the Phocaean colony of Alalia (now Aleria), located east of Corsica.
Inspiration and design
The Greek coins of the colonies of Emporion and Rhodes inspired the Iberian coins, which could be said to be adapted copies.
Iberian coins, often featuring a horseman, come from the central and northeastern regions of the Iberian Peninsula, which the Romans knew as Hispania Citerior. However, rare examples of these coins also appear in the southern and southwestern areas.
These coins, minted in silver (denarii), bronze (aces), and divisors, bear a unique feature-the use of the Iberian alphabet. This linguistic aspect adds an intriguing layer to the study of Iberian coins.
The mythical Iberian coinage with the mint of the horseman series appeared in Kesse between the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.
Later, Kesse would be followed by other neighboring towns in Hispania Citerior. The obverse probably represents a hero or a divinity, and the reverse, with the horseman, has several interpretations; perhaps the most widespread is that it is an Iberian warrior.
This event coincides with Rome’s substitution of Ampurias for Tarraco as the center of its military operations in the Iberian Peninsula.
Iberian mints
A large number of cities, more than 100, are attributed to the minting of Iberian coins, either in copper, silver, or both. There were also dividers, although they are rarer,
The evolution of the use of Iberian coins is a testament to the development of the local economic culture of the Iberian tribes. Initially serving to pay soldiers, the coins later facilitated internal trade.
Here, we see the coin with the horseman, undoubtedly the best known.
The male bust is usually adorned with torque and sometimes with letters. On the reverse, the horseman usually carries a spear, although sometimes he also holds a palm, a sickle, or even a sword.
Below the horseman appears the mint with the Iberian legend.
The Sertorian Wars, which took place in the Iberian Peninsula between 82 and 72 B.C., contributed to the massive production of this type of coins to pay the troops, especially from the Bolskan mint (present-day Huesca), which became the planning center for the maneuvers during the conflict.
The photograph on the left shows that the mint is arekoratas. It is a Berona coinage about which there is no consensus on its location (one theory is present-day Soria).
From the end of the Wars in 72 B.C. until the Roman civil war of 49 B.C., which pitted Caesar against Pompey, the mints of Hispania Citerior no longer minted silver, only bronze. Due to the progressive Romanization, they changed their Iberian alphabet for the Latin alphabet. From 49 B.C. onwards, most of these mints stopped issuing this type of coins and began to mint Roman coins.
The MIB catalog
If you are interested in Iberian coins, the MIB catalog (monedaiberica.org) is an invaluable source for researching the monetary history of Iberia/Hispania. Developed with modern technology, it combines information from previous catalogs and monographs. It contains about 4200 types and variants of Iberian coins, structured according to proposals of recent studies and works of experts such as Leandre Villaronga.
In conclusion, Iberian coins are treasures that connect us to ancient Iberia and its rich history and influences. Their legacy continues to fascinate numismatists and history lovers.
