A Central Italian ‘Dionysus / Panther’ coin from Cabrera de Mar (El Maresme, Barcelona), and contacts between Central Italy and Catalonia in the 2nd and 1st Centuries BC

Three “Dionysus / panther” coins are known from Catalonia, one from excavations at Cabrera de Mar (Ilturo). This is a key component of the Central Italian Assemblage of the Italo-Baetican series, and dates to the late 90s/early 80s bc. The excavation coin probably arrived during the Sertorian wars (80–72), certainly before 50. We therefore review evidence of contacts between Hispania Citerior and Central Italy, Hispania Citerior and Ulterior, and Hispania Ulterior and Central Italy. We compare coins from the Cabrera de Mar valley with Spanish coins from Minturnae. We reconsider the Isla Pedrosa wreck, which contained specimens of the Central Italian Assemblage, imported Italic ceramics from the Catalan coast and La Loba mine, and some of the more important wrecks between c. 200 and 50. There is little evidence for maritime contact between Citerior and Ulterior, but better evidence, in each case, of contacts with central Italy.