Lot 4580

Description

Ancient Britain, Gallic War imports, (c.52-51 B.C.), Atrebates, A-type/S-type gold stater (5.51 g), obv. letter A on plain field, rev. Celtic horse right, S below, oval shape behind, beaded ring in front, (S.13, Sills class 6, ABC 19, GB 5, Van A 87, LT 8707). Lightly toned gold, a few flan splits, otherwise nearly extremely fine with a bold horse and very rare as a British find.

Private purchase from Chris Rudd, list 126, #6.



This piece was found in Rochester, Kent and is very rare as a British find with only three others recorded.

Evans (1890) sees a VE monogram on the obverse and speculates that it may stand for a Gallic Verica. Van Arsdell (1989) also calls it a VE monogram. Chris Rudd determines it to be an archaic letter A, referring to the Atrebates of northern Gaul who apparently issued this Gallic War type. 53 have been recorded on the Continent, but only three have been found in Britain.