Lot 906

Description

Ancient British, Celtic plain type ring money, struck in Britain, 1200-100 B.C., (12.2 grams), 17mm, (S.-; Van Arsdell 1-3). Good very fine and very rare.

This lot comes with an old cardboard ticket from Fulwood Park, stating 'This gold ring money was found between Boyle and Longford in making the railway between those towns in 1866. Bought in by Chas. Morgan and from him to me for Å“2 (value by standard about 38/-)' signed Robert Trimble. This is the earliest form of money used in Britain for which no contemporary account exist. Rings like this are known from Bronze age contexts, about 1000 B.C., or perhaps earlier. The earlier pieces may have been used as ornaments but their use as money probably dates from the second centrury B.C. This piece is of gold and is very rare, but a small number are known plated.