Allobroges Tribe, Gaul (hippocamp coll.)

[B]Allobroges Tribe, Gaul (75-70 BC.) AR Denarius[/B] [U]Obv[/U]: Helmeted head of Ares, facing left; dotted circular border. [U]Rev[/U]: Bridled hippocamp, facing left. [u]Attribution[/u]: Van der Wielen 125-176; CCCBM II 196-204; de la Tour 2974 [u]Provenance[/u]: ex. CNG e145, #3, 8.9.06 [u]Weight[/u]: 2.27 gm [u]Maximal Diameter[/u]: 13 mm [u]Axis[/u]: 12 [u]Note[/u]: The Allobroges were a war-like tribe in the region between the Western Alps, Lake Geneva, and the Rhône; their "capital" was Vienna, and their northern bordertown Genava (modern Geneva). Their name is curious as it is Gaulish for "stranger" or "foreigner." Hannibal's famous crossing of the Alps began in the region of the Allobroges, who put up some resistance to his encroachment upon their territory. About a hundred years later (121 BC.), the Allobroges were conquered by the Romans, and their region incorporated into the province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Allobroges were made offers to join in the Catiline conspiracy, but they refused the offers and exposed the plot in 63 B.C. CT231