Celtic Coin – Dobunni Tribe Silver Unit – 1st Century

Description

Header: Celtic Coin – Dobunni tribe silver unit 1st century

Denomination: Silver unit

Period: Iron age Celtic

Date: Early 1st century

Origin: Western England

Condition: AVF/VF 

Obverse: Crude head known as ‘Moon Head’, right, pellet triads for hair to left, pellet for eye, large boss on chin, stalk-like lips, faintly visible wavy ?hair to right

Reverse: Annulate horse with triple tail, flower motif below, stylised bird’s head above

Size and Weight: 14mm, 1.20g

References: ABC 2018, Spink 377

Features and Provenance: The Dobunni was a Celtic tribe residing in an areas now known as Gloucestershire. Worcestershire and Avon. They were a trading tribe and their coinage thus spread far and wide, even into Wales, where no native coinage was minted at the time. The meaning of the tribe’s name is not known but their emblem seems to be that of a stylised tree and since their homeland was heavily forested then, this is feasible. Our example is known as the ‘Cotswold Eagle’ and is scarce. This was minted at a time when silver was becoming scarcer and thus the coins were becoming debased, with a greater percentage of copper.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible