Chute Type

Obverse – Abstract head of Apollo right (wreath with leaves downwards, cloak and crescents). Spike with long crescent.

Reverse – Crude, disjointed horse left, rectangular head, body of crescents, four vertical legs. Three horizontal lines behind legs. Crab below comprised of pellet with four wavy arms, each with a pellet at the end. Second crab (or bug) comprised of oval pellet with arms above. ‘Coffee bean’ motif with arms above tail. Reverse spiral below horse’s head. Many pellets above.

Comes with previous collectors handwritten label, found near Winchester, Hampshire.

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Belgae

Coin types attributed to the Belgae are extremely varied and, with one notable exception, uninscribed.

Developing onwards from two main stater types (Chute & Cheriton) are an extensive range of quarter-staters. Most common among these are two key issues – the ‘Hampshire Thunderbolt’ (ABC 767/BMC 129–36) and the stylistically more developed ‘Petersfield Wreath’ (ABC 773/BMC 568–70). A further 23 types of quarter-stater are listed by ABC, which show considerable variation in style. Many are obscenely rare, so much so that neither the cabinets of the British Museum nor those of major 20th century British collectors possessed examples. The horse is ubiquitous on the reverses of all these types, while obverses tend towards geometric designs – specifically those of cruciform appearance. Wheels, solar motifs, pellets-in-rings, stylised animals and wreaths abound here, truly reflecting the apogee of ‘Celtic’ art! Selected highlights include the ‘Huxtables Eagles’ (ABC 782/BMC 542–3 and ‘Danebury Scrolls’ types (ABC 791/BMC 539). It is worth noting that the ABC names for many types of the Belgae reference Danebury, the important Hampshire hillfort excavated by Barry Cunliffe in the later 20th century.

Silver units struck in the territory of the Belgae are even more variable than the quarter-staters. Several different stylistic ‘strands’ seem to be visible here. Some employ profile busts of a lunate appearance, which is sometimes combined with multiple crescents to represent the hair (e.g. ABC 836, 839, 923, 926) – a feature which connects them, as with Dobunnic issues, to prototypes deriving from Armorican coinage. By contrast, there are also coins with distinct, helmeted busts. These, like the East Anglian ‘Bury Diadem’, strongly evoke the bust of Roma on Roman Republican denarii. These types include the ‘Hampshire Helmet’, ‘Mossop Helmet’ and, to a lesser extent, the ‘Danebury Sunrays’ (ABC 851, 854, 866/BMC 609, 595–601). Another type whose obverse may take influence from denarii is the sole inscribed issue attributed to the Belgae – the so-called ‘Ex Head’ (ABC 995/BMC 614–28). Other types of silver unit still are entirely zoomorphic and depict only animals. Some of these are entirely conventional, such as the various ‘Danebury Boar’ variants (ABC 872, 875, 878/BMC 637), while others depict beasts of a more fantastical appearance. For example the ‘Danebury Dragon’, which displays a recurved, clawed animal on its obverse (ABC 896/BMC 631–33).

While no bronze coinage appears to be attributable to the Belgae, the group did produce fractional half-units and minims. These comprise a highly diverse suite of types characterised by their extreme rarity.

The post Belgae 1st Century BC Gold Stater Chute Type appeared first on Silbury Coins.

From a collection over 30 years in the making, covering the whole range of Ancient British coinage, and including many ABC/Spink plate coins, this collector, exercising careful and methodical selection bought only the best pieces, helped by long-term acquisition during the ‘golden years’, when new discoveries were plentiful. This shows in the overall quality and completeness of the collection.

Whether gleaming, impressive gold staters or intricately cut silver units bearing the only surviving portraits from Britain’s ancient past are your thing, this collection has all that and more in abundance.

For more information and to view coins available now visit:

The London Collection – Silbury Coins : Silbury Coins

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Crossed wreaths, one of crescents, around pellet in ring/Annulate horse left,open crescent to front, ring with 6 dots below

Excessively Rare

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ABC 917 (plate coin); 10mm, 0.82g

one of, if not the best example of type. 5 known.

Provenance

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

C Rudd FPL 38, no 23. Found Danebury Hill, Hampshire 1998. CCI 98.1970.  ABC plate coin

This coin comes with a previous label.

Belgae

Coin types attributed to the Belgae are extremely varied and, with one notable exception, uninscribed.

Developing onwards from two main stater types (Chute & Cheriton) are an extensive range of quarter-staters. Most common among these are two key issues – the ‘Hampshire Thunderbolt’ (ABC 767/BMC 129–36) and the stylistically more developed ‘Petersfield Wreath’ (ABC 773/BMC 568–70). A further 23 types of quarter-stater are listed by ABC, which show considerable variation in style. Many are obscenely rare, so much so that neither the cabinets of the British Museum nor those of major 20th century British collectors possessed examples. The horse is ubiquitous on the reverses of all these types, while obverses tend towards geometric designs – specifically those of cruciform appearance. Wheels, solar motifs, pellets-in-rings, stylised animals and wreaths abound here, truly reflecting the apogee of ‘Celtic’ art! Selected highlights include the ‘Huxtables Eagles’ (ABC 782/BMC 542–3 and ‘Danebury Scrolls’ types (ABC 791/BMC 539). It is worth noting that the ABC names for many types of the Belgae reference Danebury, the important Hampshire hillfort excavated by Barry Cunliffe in the later 20th century.

Silver units struck in the territory of the Belgae are even more variable than the quarter-staters. Several different stylistic ‘strands’ seem to be visible here. Some employ profile busts of a lunate appearance, which is sometimes combined with multiple crescents to represent the hair (e.g. ABC 836, 839, 923, 926) – a feature which connects them, as with Dobunnic issues, to prototypes deriving from Armorican coinage. By contrast, there are also coins with distinct, helmeted busts. These, like the East Anglian ‘Bury Diadem’, strongly evoke the bust of Roma on Roman Republican denarii. These types include the ‘Hampshire Helmet’, ‘Mossop Helmet’ and, to a lesser extent, the ‘Danebury Sunrays’ (ABC 851, 854, 866/BMC 609, 595–601). Another type whose obverse may take influence from denarii is the sole inscribed issue attributed to the Belgae – the so-called ‘Ex Head’ (ABC 995/BMC 614–28). Other types of silver unit still are entirely zoomorphic and depict only animals. Some of these are entirely conventional, such as the various ‘Danebury Boar’ variants (ABC 872, 875, 878/BMC 637), while others depict beasts of a more fantastical appearance. For example the ‘Danebury Dragon’, which displays a recurved, clawed animal on its obverse (ABC 896/BMC 631–33).

While no bronze coinage appears to be attributable to the Belgae, the group did produce fractional half-units and minims. These comprise a highly diverse suite of types characterised by their extreme rarity.

The post Belgae 1st Century BC Danebury Crescents Silver Unit *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

2 plain crescents at centre of crossed wreath/ Horse right with single tail, 2 pellets and ring below

Excessively Rare

ABC830; 10mm, 1.04g

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4 known, this example being better than the ABC plate coin. Well centred on both sides and little wear.

Provenance

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

ex G Cottam Collection, 2002

This coin comes with a previous label.

The Belgae tribe occupied North Hampshire & West Berkshire, neighbours to the East Wilts tribe. In recent years we have seen more and more coins tentatively being attributed to the Belgae, mainly on style but with provenance also a consideration. It is likely that many more types are yet to be identified given their apparent limited issues, most coins being classed as ‘Extremely Rare’ or rarer.

The post Belgae 1st Century BC Winchester Cross Wreath Gold Quarter Stater *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Belgae Gold Stater 65-40 BC

Chute Type

Disjointed horse left with rectangular head, 4 vertical legs and crab below / Head of Apollo, wreath, cloak and crescents

ABC746, S22; 22mm, 6.02g

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The Tarrant Gunville Hoard: In July of 2022, a metal-detectorist in the east Dorset parish of Tarrant Gunville recovered an important hoard of Iron Age coins. Numbering 31 pieces in total, mostly gold Chute type staters from the Belgae tribes but also containing some Silver Durotrigian coins highlighting the mixing of Iron age coin types. With no interest to acquire the hoard forthcoming from either local or national museums, it was subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder who contacted us.
We have produced an information booklet, a copy of this will be sent with each coin and is also available online here. A detailed catalogue can also be viewed on the Portable Antiquities website here.

A rare & exciting opportunity to own a coin from a fully provenanced and researched treasure find.

The post Belgae Gold Stater 65-40 BC Chute Type The Tarrant Gunville Hoard appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Belgae Gold Stater 65-40 BC

Chute Type

Disjointed horse left with rectangular head, 4 vertical legs and crab below  / Head of Apollo, wreath, cloak and crescents

ABC746, S22; 19mm, 6.01g

The Tarrant Gunville Hoard: In July of 2022, a metal-detectorist in the east Dorset parish of Tarrant Gunville recovered an important hoard of Iron Age coins. Numbering 31 pieces in total, mostly gold Chute type staters from the Belgae tribes but also containing some Silver Durotrigian coins highlighting the mixing of Iron age coin types. With no interest to acquire the hoard forthcoming from either local or national museums, it was subsequently disclaimed and returned to the finder who contacted us.
We have produced an information booklet, a copy of this will be sent with each coin and is also available online here. A detailed catalogue can also be viewed on the Portable Antiquities website here.

A rare & exciting opportunity to own a coin from a fully provenanced and researched treasure find.

The post Belgae Gold Stater 65-40 BC Chute Type The Tarrant Gunville Hoard appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Hampshire Thunderbolt

Scarce

ABC767 S46, 10mm, 1.39g

The post Belgae 1st Century BC Gold Quarter Stater Hampshire Thunderbolt appeared first on Silbury Coins.

1st Century BC

Wreath design with hidden face/Horse right, VA below

ABC773

Rare

9mm, 0.88g

Comes with previous handwritten label

The post Belgae 1st Century BC Petersfield Wreath Gold Quarter Stater appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Stylised boat with 2 figures standing/Cruciform thunderbolt motif, various objects in angles.

S46, ABC767, 11mm, 1.38g

This coin comes with an old ticket

The post Belgae 60-20BC Gold Quarter Stater Hampshire Thunderbolt scarce appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Horned head right corded lines behind face for hair./ Horse right. Wheel below and wavy armed star above.

ABC866, S56, 10mm, 0.69g

Provenance will be provided

This coin comes with an old ticket

The post Belgae 1st Century BC Danebury Sunrays Silver Unit very rare appeared first on Silbury Coins.