LOT 3050
Celts in Eastern Europe Fourrée Drachm. Circa 3rd-2nd century BC. Imitation of Alexander III of Macedon.
Celticised head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Stylised Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; blundered legend to right, M in left field. Cf. Roma E-75, lot 17. Very Fine. Small break in plating on nose.(4.03gr, 17mm, 11h.).
ProvenanceEx Roma Numismatics, E-Sale 77, 26 November 2020, lot 98.
Property of a London antiquarian.
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AUCTIONS:
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Celtic Northwest Gaul. Coriosolites BI Stater. Circa 100-50 BC.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Stylised head to right, hair in large spiral curls, S-like ear; pearl strings flowing around / Stylised charioteer driving biga to right; below, boar to right; pearl string flowing above, ornaments around. Depeyrot, NC VIII, 178; DT 2334. 6.52gr, 19mm, 7h.
Good Very Fine.
Ex Naville Numismatics Ltd. Property of a London antiquarian. -
Celtic Britannia. Belgae AR Unit. Circa 50-40 BC. Old Basing type.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
Head right, ladder hair, tiny rings and small horse on its side in front / Horse left, floral sun above, ring in front, double ringed-pellet below. ABC 836; VA-; BMC-; S-; Num. Circ. October 1990, p.269, no.18. 1.02gr, 12mm, 10h.
Good Very Fine. Lightly toned, well centred, lovely head, bold horse. Very rare.
Ex Chris Rudd, 133, lot 15, ref. no.17473. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.
This could well be the forerunner of the Commios Ladder Head types. The facial features are similar, the 'ladder' hairstyle is similar. Formerly thought to be a Dobunnic type, Old Basing is now firmly bedded in the southern region. Basing, Hampshire, means 'Basa's people'. This is still a very rare type, unlisted by Evans, Mack, Allen, Van Arsdell, Hobbs and Spink. -
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Celtic Northeast Gaul. Ambiani AR Fraction. Circa 75-50 BC. Picardy Horse Face type.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Stylised helmet head right, horse's head forming eye and nose / Horse right, with long beaded mane, six armed 'star' in front with ring at centre, two rings above, small horse's head below. LT 8500/8515 var.; BMC 156; Sch/ GB 51, fig. 330; DT 189; Allen 'Les pièces d'argent minces du comté de Hampshire', Revue Numismatique, VI série, VII (1965), p.79-93, pl.V, no.29. 0.48gr, 13mm, 11h.
Good Very Fine. Toned, great horse, full 'star'. Very rare.
Ex Chris Rudd, 118, lot 5, ref. no.15074. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.
As Derek Allen (1965) says, this extraordinary type was ultimately derived from the Pallas Athene silver coins of the Aulerci Cenomani (cf. LT 5967, 5973, 5980, 5985) and heavily influenced the Hampshire Thin Silver series of the British Belgae (ABC 911) and the Chichester Chariot Wheel thin silver of the Regini (ABC 701). This lovely example of the Picardy Horse Face explicitly shows a horse's head emerging from the forehead of the stylised head. The spear is also clearly displayed as part of the helmet. The spidery 'star' symbol in front of the horse can be seen again before the horse on the Yarmouth gold stater of the Regini (ABC 518).
