Wreath split with 3 corded lines leading to turf cutter/Disjointed horse left with 4 horizontal tails, pellets above, crab below

Rare

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ABC 755; 18mm, 5.05g

A premium coin, well struck from dies which show the eyes as small annulets below the crescents.

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 114, no 13. Found Portsmouth, Hants VA 1215

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 Cheriton Smiler Gold Stater *Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Turf cutter motif with cogwheel to each side of central corded line/Horse left with floral sun above and comet below

Excessively Rare

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ABC 770 (Plate coin); 11mm, 1.07g

This type seldom offered for sale, 8 known. Probably closely related to the Cheriton Smiler stater.

Provenance

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

SNC CIII 3, no 1625 (March 1995), 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 Cogwheel Smiler Gold Quarter Stater *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Wreath, cloak and crescents/Wolf right, jaws open, bird on back and pellets, pellet and crescent below, beaded exergual loop

Scarce

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ABC 1393; 17mm, 6.15g

well struck on a broad flan, full wolf and surrounding detail clear. Obverse off struck but as a result full hair detail shows, a premium coin

Provenance

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

M Vosper, 1997. Found north of Ely, Norfolk VA 610-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

The post Iceni 1st Century BC Norfolk Wolf Right Type Gold Stater *Scarce* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Diademed head right with flame like hair/Triple tailed horse right, with human head above and boar below

Extremely Rare

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ABC644 (plate coin); 15mm, 1.39g

well struck on a broad flan, a premium example of this interesting type.

Provenance

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

SNC CII 3, no 2074, 1994. ABC plate coin

This coin comes with a previous label.

Regni/Regini

The Regni, sometimes referred to as the Regini, appear to have occupied what is today the western portion of West Sussex – their tribal civitas probably underlying what became the Roman town of Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester). Regnian coinage is characterised not only by its sheer diversity, but also scarcity. Indeed, many of the key types are extremely rare. This is perhaps exemplified best by many of the tribe’s quarter-staters, of which no fewer than forty varieties are listed by ABC.

The post Regini 1st Century BC Chichester Boar Silver Unit *Extremely Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Plain except for slight banding and pellet near edge/Triple tailed horse right with wheel below, complex charioteer’s arm above

Excessively Rare

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ABC521 (plate coin); 17mm, 5.90g

A great rarity in fabulous condition, this enigmatic type is likely to have been amongst the earliest coins struck in Britain, closely copying the Suessiones series. Just 3 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 104, no 18. Found Chichester, W Sussex. DK ill. 205 (this coin) ABC Plate coin

This coin comes with a previous label.

Regni/Regini

The Regni, sometimes referred to as the Regini, appear to have occupied what is today the western portion of West Sussex – their tribal civitas probably underlying what became the Roman town of Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester). Regnian coinage is characterised not only by its sheer diversity, but also scarcity. Indeed, many of the key types are extremely rare. This is perhaps exemplified best by many of the tribe’s quarter-staters, of which no fewer than forty varieties are listed by ABC.

The post Regini 1st Century BC Selsey Stockholm Gold Stater *Excessively Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Plain/Triple tailed horse right, wheel below and charioteers arms above

ABC488 (Plate coin); 18mm, 5.91g

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Well struck on a large flan, a premium coin. They don’t come better than this.

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 57, no 36. Found Berkshire 1999. DK British Q, class 2b, British Qb VA 216. ABC Plate coin.

This coin comes with a previous label.

Atrebates

A distinct grouping whose ancestral heartlands in Britain appear to sit within the region now comprising Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire. Coins from late in the Atrebatic series name their capital, Calleva – which would become the Roman town of Calleva Atrebatum (modern Silchester).

Early uninscribed issues struck in the tribe’s British zone of influence include the so-called ‘Westerham’ type staters (ABC 482/BMC 24–32), whose abstract designs are based upon gold Macedonian staters. The Westerham staters themselves probably provided the inspiration for both Belgic staters of the Chute type, as well as later Cranborne Chase staters of the Durotriges. A particularly beautiful type of uninscribed Atrebatic quarter stater with numerous die varieties is the so-called ‘Selsey Dahlia’ (ABC 500/503/BMC 478–94), which displays a flower-like sun design above the reverse horse. Inscribed issues seem to appear from about 30 BC onwards, naming individuals such as Commios, Tincomarus, Eppillus and Verica. Commios appears to have held particular influence, as the latter three issuers all make claim to be his sons upon their coinages – perhaps a way of legitimising their authority.

Regni/Regini

The Regni, sometimes referred to as the Regini, appear to have occupied what is today the western portion of West Sussex – their tribal civitas probably underlying what became the Roman town of Noviomagus Reginorum (Chichester). Regnian coinage is characterised not only by its sheer diversity, but also scarcity. Indeed, many of the key types are extremely rare. This is perhaps exemplified best by many of the tribe’s quarter-staters, of which no fewer than forty varieties are listed by ABC.

The post Regini & Atrebates 1st Century BC Selsey Uniface Gold Stater appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Right type

Flamboyant wreath bust right with big hair/Horse right, charioteer above

Rare

ABC1; 21mm, 7.37g

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The very beginning of the story of coinage in Britain, Coin of England number 1. These were the prototypes for British coinage and are highly important as such. Examples like this with Apollo facing right are much rarer than the left facing type.

Provenance

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

CNG Triton I auction (December 1997), Lot 2195, ex David Sear. Scheers class IV. VA 10-1

This coin comes with a previous label.

Iron Age Gallo Belgic & early uninscribed coins are found all over Britain. These coins were made in Gaul then imported during the 2nd-1st Century BC, before coin manufacture was established in Britain. The introduction of Britain’s own coinage in around 60-50 BC was in an uninscribed form to start with, only later did rulers realise the potential of inscriptions.

The post Gallo Belgic Ambiani 2nd Century BC Broad Flan Gold Stater appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Diademed head right with torc-like ear and crescentic neck line, bucranium before and other animal heads around/Horse right ringed pellet on chest and haunch, animal head above, ringed pellet and neck- torc below

Excessively Rare

ABC240; 15mm, 1.07g

Minor edge chip. 3 known.

View Video Here

Provenance

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

Silbury Coins, April 2012 (find spot unrecorded)

This coin comes with a previous label.

Cantiaci

 ‘Of all the Britons the inhabitants of Kent, an entirely maritime district, are by far the most civilised, differing but little from the Gallic manner of life.’

Caesar, De Bello Gallico, book V, chapter 13.

The modern county of Kent was, according to the Romans, the homeland of the Cantiaci or Cantii. The closest portion of mainland Britain to the Continent, it is unsurprising that in the Late Iron Age the region boasted strong links with north-east France – a legacy maintained to this day, one could argue, with the continued importance of Dover and Folkestone as key cross-channel ferry ports.

Kent’s earliest Iron Age coins (and indeed, probably the earliest indigenously-produced British coins) are represented by cast bronze pieces called potins, whose alloy has a high tin content. On the basis of single finds and hoards, we know that imported gold in the form of Gallo-Belgic coinage was widely used in Kent at around the same time as the potins.

The somewhat mysterious series of uninscribed Kentish gold, including the so-called ‘Weald Net’ staters (ABC 177/BMC 2466) and ‘Corded Triangle’ quarter staters (ABC 198/BMC 2469–71) were probably struck c. 50–30/25 BC, they perhaps slightly precede a diverse group of uninscribed silver and bronze issues.

Inscribed issues belong towards the end of the Kentish coin-sequence, as is invariably the general case in Late Iron Age Britain. Their production probably began from c. 25 BC onwards and runs onward till shortly before the Claudian invasion. It is worth noting that at this time, Kent seems to have been taken over to varying extents by rulers from neighbouring regions. These rulers in turn came to issue coins in the region, even though they themselves might not originate from it, nor it reflect their main power-base.

The post Cantiaci 1st C BC Garrad’s Ring Horse Silver Unit *Excess. Rare* appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Stylised boar right with pellet eye on shoulder, single front leg, spear in front piercing ears , pellet rosette above/Horse prancing right, pellet triads either side of wheel above, phallic motif between pellet triads below

ABC 1582; 13mm, 1.00g

High grade and central strike to both sides, dark tone to good silver.

Evans: XVI.9 (1864, p. 398, pl. XVI).

Allen Type: Boar Horse C.

Van Arsdell Classification: Icenian C, Early Uninscribed Silver Coins, Freckenham Era Types. Van Arsdell lists two variants:
VA 659 – 01: No pellet on shoulder.
VA 659 – 03: Pellet on shoulder.
However, the lack of pellet could be due to wear or strike.

Talbot Boar Horse C. Talbot Boar Horse C. The middle of the denominational period saw the introduction of back-to-back crescents. Boar Horse C was a large issue following Boar Horse B and preceding Ecen and Anted. It was struck at Mint A, which was responsible for most gold and used the most dies, characterised by a horse with an open head – a feature lost on Boar Horse B but reintroduced for Boar Horse C units (less so the half units). Boar Horse C was the last issue including significant gold.

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 PT 1438.  Spink COE 2026 Plate coin (S431), VA 659-3

This coin comes with a previous label.

The post Iceni 1st Century BC Norfolk Phallic Boar Silver Unit appeared first on Silbury Coins.

Uniface type

Plain/Sinuous horse right

ABC16; 17mm, 6.21g

a central strike and pretty coin with detail in exergue.

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, 1631, 1995 VA 52-1 Scheers GB class II, plate VI, no 153

This coin comes with a previous label.

Iron Age Gallo Belgic & early uninscribed coins are found all over Britain. These coins were made in Gaul then imported during the 2nd-1st Century BC, before coin manufacture was established in Britain. The introduction of Britain’s own coinage in around 60-50 BC was in an uninscribed form to start with, only later did rulers realise the potential of inscriptions.

The post Gallo Belgic Ambiani 1st Century BC Gold Stater appeared first on Silbury Coins.