Catuvellauni Tasciovanos c. 25 BC-AD 10 Tascio Ricon Gold Stater *Illustrated in ABC*

Catuvellauni Tasciovanos c. 25 BC-AD 10 Tascio Ricon Gold Stater

Rare, 27 known

ABC 2580, VA1780-9, 18mm, 5.42g

A miniature masterpiece of ancient art, a clear favourite of the authors of ABC as it features on page iii in an article titled ‘Money talks’ and on the back cover. An asset to any serious collection. Extremely fine, a remarkable coin for both style and completeness.

Estimate £6,000-£8,000

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Obverse – TASCI RICON inscription in two panels on vertical line-and-pellet wreath and crossed stalks.

Unabbreviated legend – Tasciovanos Rigonos (Tasciovanos, great king).

Reverse – warrior in chain mail and helmet riding high-bodied horse with bridle left, holding short sword and oval shield. Pellet in pellet ring below.

Provenance

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

Noble Numismatics Auction 115, lot 4654. C Rudd FPL 111, no 48 (2010). Found Wantage, Oxon. See page iii of ABC and back cover.

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.

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