#numimatics

[archaicwonder]

Celtic Imitation of Philip II of Macedon, 2nd Century BC

This is a Celtic imitation of the coins of Philip II of Macedon. It comes from Eastern Europe, central or southern Hungary and is known as a ‘Zickzackgruppe’ type, which gets its name from the zigzag appearance of  four Greek lambdas on the reverse above the horse.

Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus left. Reverse: Horseman riding left; before, annulet-in-square; above, square and zigzag pattern formed from four Λs, and thick annulet behind head of rider.

About Celtic Copycat Coins...

[archaicwonder]

Celtic Gold Stater of the Aulerci Diablintes, Gaul, 1st Century BC/AD

On the obverse is Apollo wearing a laurel wreath. On the reverse is a chariot pulled by a man-headed horse (androcephalic). A vexillum (flag-like object) is suspended from a cord held by the charioteer. A seahorse is under the man-headed horse.

The Aulerci Diablintes were an ancient people of Gaul, a division of the Aulerci. Julius Caesar mentions the Diablintes among the allies of the Veneti and other Armoric states whom Caesar attacked. The territory of the Diablintes (map) seems to have been small, and it may have been included in that of the Cenomanni, or the former diocese of Mans, the area of the modern Loire Valley and Seine River of central France.

[archaicwonder]

Stater from Abdera, Thrace, C. 346-336 BC

The obverse: A griffin crouching and raising its forepaw; EΠI above, ΠAYΣANI[Ω] (for Pausanias, the magistrate) in exergue. The reverse: ABΔHPI-TEΩN around the laureate head of Apollo, all within shallow incuse square.

Abdera (map) was located the Thracian mainland, opposite the island of Thasos, and derived great wealth from the nearby silver mines and trade between the Greeks and Odrysian Kingdom. Its symbol, the legendary griffin, was known as a guardian of great treasures. This magnificent silver stater depicts a powerful and majestic griffin in superb detail, including features derived from other animals – the beak, wings, and talons of an eagle, ears and neck of a horse, and the body of a lion. The young Apollo depicted on the reverse in similarly fine style recalls the gold coins of the nearby Macedonian Kingdom, which brought Abdera under its yoke in 350 BC.

[archaicwonder]

Rare Celtic ‘Dancing Manikin’ Coin, 65 BC - 1 AD

According to its weight, this odd little Celtic silver coin is a quinarius. After the charming depiction on the obverse, it is known as the "quinar with the dancing manikin." Actually, the dancing manikin is a running warrior holding a torque in his right hand, a typical Celtic collar that was reserved for high-ranking people and for gods. The other hand holds a snake. Quinarii of the "dancing manikin" variety are rare and not known in a secure archaeological context as yet. It is assumed that they were produced in the middle Rhine region (map) during the 1st century BC.