Important Ancient Coins

Gaul, The Treveri, Germanus Indutillius L, Quadrans, c. 15-8 BC, diademed bust right, rev. CERMANVS INDVTILLI L, bull butting left, 2.77g/7h (BMC Celtic Gaul 263-8; RPC 506; RIC Augustus 249). Very fine, green patina £60-80

Provenance: C. Rudd LL6, August 2003 (1); D.E. Beadell Collection.

Germanus Indutilli L(ibertus), a freed man under the Roman empire, is completely unknown to history apart from his coin issue. The reverse type is based on a prototype of Lugdunum current from 15 BC onwards (CBN 1373; RIC 167) with a distribution centred in the Roman province of Gallia Belgica. This abundant issue was an auxiliary regional coinage and probably intended to be a quadrans, meeting the needs of everyday trade at a time of a shortage of small change