Lot 4596

Description

Ancient British, Southern Region, Berkshire, Uninscribed coins, Abingdon Head type, (c.55-45 B.C.), silver unit, (1.12 g), obv. female head to left, prominent lips and boss on chin, three crescents for hair, heart shaped ear, small horses in front, rev. horse to right with zigzag tail, phallus and ladder mane, small fat horse upside down above, (S.-, ABC 1007, Van A -, BMC -, M -, CCI 05.0552 [this coin]). Toned, well struck head, bold horse on reverse, very fine or better and excessively rare.

Private purchase from Chris Rudd, list 129, #20 and list 85, #30.



This extremely rare silver unit comes from a small tribe (name now lost) in Berkshire and South Oxfordshire. Only ten other examples are recorded, three of which are chipped or badly damaged. This piece is one of the finest known.