Catuvellauni Tasciovanos c. 25 BC-AD 10 Hidden Faces Gold Stater *Rare*

Catuvellauni Tasciovanos c. 25 BC-AD 10 Hidden Faces Gold Stater

Cruciform design with crossed double wreaths of two corded lines, the vertical wreath (when central crescents standing) is curved with the apex facing clockwise, with large ringed pellets at each end. Back-to-back arcs at centre (no pellets on ends). Splayed V-shape with three annulets around in opposing angles. ‘Hidden face’ (linear crescent mouth, pellet eyes and chin, and a bracket forehead) in other angles.

Horse right, upper part of third leg split. Bucranium, large solar rosette (anemone) and inscription above. Hook-like object (Reversed R from a frond) below. Inverted floral motif in front. Pellets and annulets around.

Rare

An iconic type, soft on reverse but central and still much detail.

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ABC 2553; 17mm, 5.47g

Evans: C12 (1864, p. 78, pl. C).
Evans: V.8 (1864, p. 228, pl. V).
Evans: VI.13 (1864, p. 248, pl. VI).

Van Arsdell Classification: Trinovantian M, Earlier Dynastic Issues, Tasciovanus First Coinage.

Kretz Obverse Types B-D, which differ in the number and arrangement of pellets and annulets.

Sills TASCIAVAN[]S (13 obverse, 25 reverse dies): North Thames Coinage; Type: Tasciovanos; Staters: Class 1b – TASCIAVAN[]S. Based on the Curved Wreath (ABC 2445). Reverse die link with TAXCIAVAN[]S (ABC 2550), the obverse of which is also the same except this coin (ABC 2553) has no pellets on the end of the central arcs.
Sills DK 497: Vertical wreath arms curved, crescent mouth in ‘hidden faces’. Slack S, pellets and annulets in reverse field, teardrop above the bucranium.

Sills chronology: Gallo-Belgic Ca – British G (Early Clacton) / Aa Westerham – British La (Whaddon Chase) – British Lb (Westbury) – Addedomaros – Dubnovellaunos – Tasciovanos.

Provenance

This coin is from The London Collection of Ancient British Coins. For more information click here: The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins

Spink PT Jan 2001. Found Hertfordshire 2000. Kretz Obv. type B, Rev type 2 VA 1680-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

 

Tasciovanos (c. 25 BC–AD 10)

Following on from Addedomaros, who may or may not have been his father, we find Tasciovanos – whose coinage is some of the most complex and extensive within the North Thames series. An apparently long-lived ruler, traditional narratives of the Late Iron Age cast him as a dynamic and decisive individual who laid the groundwork for the success of his own son, Cunobelin, by extending Catavellaunian influence eastwards into East Anglia and Kent. While his coins generally take influence from indigenous art styles, some ‘classification’ is visible (though to a relatively limited degree) on specific types within his issues of silver and bronze. Some of the most impressive North Thames issues are exemplified by his gold staters, such as the ‘Tasciovanos hidden faces’ and ‘Tasciovanos warrior’ types (ABC 2553/BMC 1591–1603/ABC 2571/BMC 1615–16), both of which employ highly stylised, geometric motifs on their obverse faces. This medium also can be found on numerous examples of his bronze coinage, such as on the highly enigmatic ‘Tasciovanos Verlamio’ type. Here, the obverse depicts an eight-pointed star with the mint-name (VERLAMIO) cleverly interspersed between the points.