Celtic Northeast Gaul. Suessiones Potin Unit.

Head right, with large locks of leaf-like hair, complex solar flower before, beaded border / Spread-winged bird of prey left, with curved beak, long angled legs, fish-like tail-feathers and wings composed of two pairs of crescents, each with a pellet in the lower cusp, forming an owlish face; YLLYIII and pentagram above. LT 7508 var.; BMC 152; S 139; RIG 320. 3.21gr, 16mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine. Bronze patina, magnificent head, whole bird beautifully displayed, complete inscription. Rare.

Ex Chris Rudd, 131, lot 1, ref. no.17434. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.

Two crescents back-to-back, CV to left, N to right, two leaves above and below / Warrior on horse rearing up right, sword in right hand, CAM below. ABC 2888; VA 2047; BMC 1866-67; S 304. 1.31gr, 13mm, 10h.

Good Very Fine. Fabulous warrior, bold CAM. Very rare.

Ex Gary Leeke collection. Ex Chris Rudd, 122, lot 50, ref. no.15518. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.

The two-moon vegetal motif could possibly be seen as a reinterpretation of the obverse of the Tasciovanos Quatrefoil gold quarter stater (ABC 2583) or Tasciovanos Capricorn silver unit (ABC 2619). John Evans says: "The type of the obverse is quite new, and seems to be formed of two ivy(?) leaves with berries on either side. In general character, however, the device recalls the winged thunderbolt on a denarius of the Salvia family" [struck for Octavian, early 40 BC, Sear RCV 1541, RRC 523/1] (The Coins of the Ancient Britons, Supplement, 1890, p.566). Chris Rudd is sure that the two leaves are ivy leaves. Evergreen ivy symbolises enduring strength and the eternal cycle of death (leaf facing down) and rebirth (leaf facing up), a visual idea repeated by the two crescent moons - one waxing (dying), the other waning (born again). Ivy climbs up oak trees - trees sacred to the druids whose very name means 'oak-knowers', holy men with strong insight. Chris Rudd thinks that the ivy leaves on this coin were drawn from life, not copied from a coin or gemstone. Ivy leaves can occasionally be seen in miniature on Roman coins (for example, Sear RCV 298 and 362) but bear little resemblance to these two large leaves. The English word 'ivy', along with the names Ivo, Yvonne, Yvette and St.Ives, are all probably linked to the Celtic word ivos 'yew' - another evergreen.

Five-armed starfish, lines of pellets between each arm / Zigzag thunderbolt and line of pellets across field; eight-rayed lighting flash with rectangular body to each side. VA 1270-78; BMC 2780-81; ABC 2220. 0.99gr, 13mm.

Good Very Fine. Lightly toned, bold starfish.

Found Dorset, circa 1983? Ex Matthew Rich collection. Ex Chris Rudd, 123, lot 43, ref. no.16328. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.