| Uncia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Bust of Diana, bow and quiver over left shoulder. | Boar at right; dot at top (indication of value). In exergue  (KAPU) Oscan alphabet.
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| Æ, 7,09 fake specimen | |
The coinage of Capua concerns coins minted in ancient Capua, a city in ancient Campania, corresponding to present-day Santa Maria Capua Vetere. The city was located on the Appian Way and was the most important in the area, probably the largest center in the Italian peninsula after Rome.
During the Second Punic War, in 216 B.C. after the Battle of Cannae, the city chose to side with the Carthaginians. It was during this period that coins were minted bearing the city's name, KAPU, with letters of the Oscan alphabet and with mirror script.
After Hannibal's departure, the city returned to Roman occupation, permanently ceasing minting and later using Roman coinage centered on the denarius.
Capua, unlike other communities in the area, had not previously issued coinage because, after its deditio to Rome in 343 B.C., in order to defend itself against the Samnites, it had become to all intents and purposes Roman and therefore did not use coins of its own.
Traditionally numismatists treat the coins of Capua within the framework of Greek coinage.[1]