Celtic Britannia. Cantiaci, Thames Nipples Cast Potin.

Rowntree Fern Leaf type. Wreath crossed by spike with four pellets, crescents below, stylised hair above / Annulate horse to right with ‘leaf-like’ tail, fern-like symbol and ringed-pellet above, ‘cog-wheel’ radiant sun-sign below. ABC 2362; Van Arsdell -; BMC -; DK 442; SCBC -. 1.31gr, 13mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Excessively rare, only a handful recorded.

Found near Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.

From Chris Rudd Auction 184, lot 25: "This splendid coin is packed with detail. The ring-ended, leafy emblem above and in the tribal mare’s tail must be its author’s personal signature, (also on silver unit ABC 2380), while the little split symbol in front, here exceptionally clear, suggests a clan associate. Several dynasts north of the Thames had vegetal emblems as insignia, and we know the names of two who later worked exactly this leafy motif into their stater designs: Tasciovanos (ABC 2553) and Andoco (ABC 2715). Our man’s sons, perhaps? There’s a handsome little hidden face at 6 o’clock on the obverse. See Hidden faces on Celtic coins, Coin News, November 2019, pp.41-43. Not in VA, BMC nor Spink."

Imitating Alexander III and Philip III of Macedon. Degraded head of Herakles to right / Stylised Zeus seated to left, holding eagle in right hand and sceptre with left. Cf. Lanz 910-932. 15.30gr, 30mm.

Fine.

Property of a North London, UK, gentleman.

Imitating Tetradrachms of Thasos, Thrace. Head of Celticized Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath, and with his hair partially knotted at the back and partially falling down the back of his neck / ΗΡΑΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΣΩΤΗΡΟΣ ΘΑΣΙΩΝ, Herakles, nude but for laurel wreath and lion's skin over his left shoulder, standing to left, holding club with his right hand, monogram of MH to inner left. Cf. Lanz 971-4; cf. Göbl OTA ppl. 46-7. For prototype see HGC 6, 359. 15.96gr, 31mm, 1h.

Near Extremely Fine.

Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.