Secaisa, Spain
ca. 120 – 20 BCE
Ae 24.2mm 8.9g
Obv: Male head right between two dolphin
Rev: Rider holding spear right, Iberian legend SECaiSA below
FAB 2131
Secaisa was the name given to the current town of Segeda, Zaragoza, by the native Celtiberian people, the Belli.
The city has a rather odd but consequential contribution to our lives today. In 153 BCE, the Roman senate changed the first day of the year to January 1st, in order to circumvent some bureaucracy and allow Quintus Fulvius Nobilior to attack the city. He was successful and destroyed it, though a new town was quickly rebuilt in its place with the same name. During the Roman civil war, the city was permanently damaged and never re-inhabited.
Excavations at the site are currently ongoing.
153 BCE
The Roman senate changes the first day of the year to January 1st to allow an attack on Secaisa
49 BCE
Secaisa is permanently abandoned