Celtic Coinage of Britain

third edition

Click on coin to see hidden information

 

 

 

V48-01

 

Plate 2

Imported Coinage    (Info)

 

 

Imported Gold Coinage

Gallo-Belgic C    Abstract Design Type  (Info)

 

42-01 42-0344-0146-0148-01

 

 

 

Imported Gold Coinage

Gallo-Belgic E    Gallic War Type  (Info)

 

50-0152-0152-0352-0554-0156-01

 

 

 

 

Imported Gold Coinage

Gallo-Belgic D    (Info)

65-0167-0167-0369-0169-03

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold coins imported into Britain before the Gallic War.

 

 

 

Gold coins imported into Britain during the Gallic War.

 

 

 

Gold coins imported into Britain before and during the Gallic War.

 

 

 

42-01

42 - 01   Abstract Design Type

90-80 B.C      Common

Gold Stater    7.00 gms.    19 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: abstracted head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. enlarged eye
  2. pellet and two curves for nose

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. nose made up of pellet and two lines
  2. large pellet below horse

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic C

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. C-II. Pl. IV, no. 86
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin

 

 

 

42-03

42 - 03    Abstract Design Type

90-80 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold/Copper Plated Stater    4.24 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Sellwood, 1984 (Danebury Excavations)

 

OBV: abstracted head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. as 42 - 01

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. as 42 - 01

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic C

 

NOTES:

  • An ancient forgery
  • Weight of illustrated coin given
  • The illustrated coin was found during excavations at Danebury
  • An XRF study of the gold coating revealed traces of mercury, suggesting the mercury-gilding process was used – a very early occurrence of this technique

 

 

 

44-01

44 - 01    Abstract Design Type

80-70 B.C.      Scarce

Gold Stater    6.65 gms.    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: De La Tour, 1892

 

OBV: abstracted head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. face smaller than on 42 - 01
  2. larger eye than on 42 - 01
  3. curves of nose spread further apart than on 42 - 01

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. horse more stylized than on 42 - 01

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic C

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. C III, Pl. IV, nos. 87-88
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin

 

 

 

46-01

46 - 01    Abstract Design Type

80-70 B.C.      Scarce

Gold Stater    6.45 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Mack, 1953

 

OBV: abstracted head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. Wreath more dominant than on 44-1
  2. lips missing

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. exergual line normally visible

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic C

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. C-IV, Pl. IV, nos. 89-90
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin

 

 

 

48-01

48 - 01    Abstract Design Type

80-70 B.C.      Scarce

Gold Stater    6.45 gms.    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: De La Tour, 1892

 

OBV: abstracted head of Apollo right

Identifying points:

  1. head is now unrecognizable
  2. face small compared to 46 - 01
  3. face less dominant in design compared to 46 - 01

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. horse is thin and lanky

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic C

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. C V, Pl. IV, no. 91
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin

 

 

 

50-01

50 - 01    Gallic War Type

ca. 65 B.C.    Common

Gold Stater    6.35 gms.    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: Stukeley, 1776b

 

OBV: blank

 

REV: disjointed horse

Identifying points:

  1. large, tall horse
  2. large space surrounding pellet below horse
  3. zig-zag in exergue

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic E

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. E-I, Pl. VI, nos. 151-152
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin

 

 

 

52-01

52 - 01    Gallic War Type

ca. 60 B.C.      Common

Gold Stater    6.25 gms.    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: Camden, 1789 (Gough edition)

 

OBV: blank

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. horse smaller than on 50 - 01
  2. crescents and pellets in exergue
  3. exergual line is continuous

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic E

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. E-II, Pl. Vl, no. 153
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin
  • Modern forgery exists (designated 52 - 0IF, but not listed in this catalogue)

 

 

 

52-03

52 - 03    Gallic War Type

ca. 60 B.C.    Extremely Rare

Gold/Silver Plated Stater    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: blank

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. as 52 - 01

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic E

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. E-II, Pl. VI, no. 153
  • Silver core
  • Ancient forgery, made by wrapping gold sheet around a silver core, and bonding with heat

 

 

 

52-05

52 - 05    Gallic War Type

ca. 60 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold/Copper Plated Stater    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: Van Arsdell, 1989

 

OBV: blank

 

REV: disjointed horse right

  1. as 52 - 01

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic E

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. E-II, Pl. VI, no. 153
  • Bronze core
  • Ancient forgery

 

 

 

54-01

54 - 01    Gallic War Type

60-55 B.C.      Common

Gold Stater    6.20 gms.    16 mm

 

Earliest Record: De La Tour, 1892

 

OBV: blank

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. separate pellets and crescents in exergue
  2. exergual line made up of pellets

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic E

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. E-III, Pl. VI, no. 154
  • See Modern forgery 54 - 01F
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin

 

 

 

56-01

56 - 01 Gallic War Type

ca. 55 B.C.      Common

Gold Stater    6.05 gms.    17 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1864

 

OBV: blank

 

REV: disjointed horse right

Identifying points:

  1. double exergual line
  2. cruder die-cutting than 54 - 01

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic E

 

NOTES:

  • Scheers Cl. E-IV, Pl. VI, no. 155
  • Standard weight given
  • Ambianic origin

 

 

 

65-01

65 - 01    Geometric Type

65-50 B.C.    Extremely Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.35 gms.    10 mm

 

Earliest Record: Mack, 1953

 

OBV: abstracted head of Apollo

Identifying points:

  1. large pellet-in-ring motif in centre

 

REV: opposed crescents with pellet and 6-pointed stars

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic DA

 

NOTES:

  • Other previously-designated Geometric Types are now believed to be catalogued under Kentish tribes, see 144 - 01 to 147 - 01
  • Standard weight given
  • Mack was uncertain about the Gallo-Belgic DA attribution
  • Most in museums

 

 

 

67-01

67 - 01    Geometric Type

65-50 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.35 gms.    8 mm

 

Earliest Record: Mack, 1953

 

OBV: Almost plain

Identifying points:

  1. small flower-like object in centre

 

REV: Geometric pattern

Identifying points:

  1. tree like object in centre
  2. lines and curves near tree

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic DA

 

NOTES:

  • Standard weight given
  • Uncertain tribal origin
  • Many in museums

 

 

 

67-03

67 - 03    Geometric Type

65-50 B.C.      Extremely Rare

Gold Quarter Stater    1.35 gms.     8 mm

 

Earliest Record: Evans, 1890

 

OBV: Almost plain

Identifying points:

  1. remnants of flower like object in centre

 

REV: Geometric pattern

Identifying points:

  1. similar to 67 - 01
  2. small rings below tree

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic D

 

NOTES:

  • Standard weight given
  • Uncertain tribal origin

 

 

 

69-01

69 - 01 Geometric Type

65-50 B.C.    Common

Gold Quarter Stater    1.50 gms.    11 mm

 

Earliest Record: Camden, 1789 (Gough edition)

 

OBV: Geometric pattern

Identifying points:

  1. large curve with holes
  2. three irregular shapes below

 

REV: Geometric patter

Identifying points:

  1. tree like object in centre
  2. lines and curves near tree

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic DC

 

NOTES:

  • Standard weight given
  • Uncertain tribal origin
  • Some in museums
  • Obverse has been described as a wolf-and-twins or a boat with three occupants

 

 

 

69-03

69 - 03    Geometric Type

65-50 B.C.      Common

Gold Quarter Stater    1.50 gms.    14 mm

 

Earliest Record: Mack, 1953

 

OBV: Almost plain

Identifying points:

  1. remnants of design from 69 - 01 may appear

 

REV: Geometric pattern

Identifying points:

  1. tree-like object in centre
  2. lines and curves near tree
  3. small curve on either side of tree

 

CLASSIFICATION: Gallo-Belgic DB

 

NOTES:

  • Standard weight given
  • Uncertain tribal origin
  • Some in museums

 

 

 

Imported Coinage

 

Most of the coins imported into Britain were struck by the Ambiani tribe. The first imports began about 125 B.C and coins continued to be imported until the end of the Gallic War.

 

 

 

Gallo-Belgic C Gold Stater V48-01

 

Copyright R. D. Van Arsdell 2017