Auction Catalogue

5 October 2009

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Celtic Coins including the Michael O'Bee Collection Part III and the Chris Morrison Collection Part I

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

Lot

№ 5225

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5 October 2009

Hammer Price:
£3,900

Early Uninscribed issues, Unit, British Lx [North Thames group], conjoined horses, each looking back, with pellet manes and long, curling pellet tails, pellet ring above, small horse with pellet tail, crescent and pellet-in-annulet below, rev. horse right with pelleted triple tail, pellet wheel and zigzags above, pellet cross with annulets in angles in front, small horse with curly tail below, 1.58g/7h (BMC –; VA –; S –). Surfaces slightly stained, otherwise very fine or better, unpublished, UNIQUE £2,000-2,500

Provenance: Found in Hertfordshire. CCI 09.3121

This extraordinary coin, found recently in Hertfordshire, would seem to represent an early uninscribed issue from the area, dating perhaps to the period 55-40 BC. The heavy weight and the very detailed, pelleted design suggest an early type showing much Gallo-Belgic influence. The crowded appearance, with a veritable menagerie of animals, as well as the unusual conjoined horse motif are reminiscent of coins of the Ambiani (DT series 48, particularly no. 439)