I won this charming Coriosolite stater last week, and am very happy to add it to my collection. Those of you who have dabbled in Gallic staters will know they (and the Coriosolite coins in particular) are frustrating - usually off center and poorly struck on undersized flans, with only some portion of the overall design visible. For the type this is one of the more complete and well centered obverses I have seen. Enjoy, and as always feel free to post your relevant coins. CELTIC COINS. GAUL, The Coriosolites. Stater, Bi 6.25 g *I'll measure once it is in hand, but should be around 23/24 mm Head r. Rev. Man-headed horse prancing r., Below, lyra. DT II, 91, 2332; LT / BN 6703. Toned. Ex Chris Rudd, Aylsham - Fixed Price List 118 (2011), 2.
Great example. I want one, but like you say, finding a nice one (and at the right time) can be tricky.
Nvb, That's a handsome looking coin , & as you point out the obverse is well centered . This coin is quite different from the coin you got from me, especially the reverse, see photo below. The horse on your coin is much more stylized. I noticed HESS-DEVO didn't date the coin . Is it a later version than the coin you got from me (c.100-50 BC)?
@Al Kowsky as far as I know all Coriosolite coins are dated 1st century BC. The following link which i’m sure you have seen shows a chronology of issues. http://www.writer2001.com/improvisations.htm The coin I posted above looks like a Series X, Group C or D. I’m at work now but when I get some time I’ll try to get a definitive answer to your question.. The coin I got from you is a series Y, which should presumably make it the later issue of the two
Nvb, Thanks for the link on John Hooker's study, it is new to me. After browsing through celtic improvisations, I'm guessing this must be the Bible of Coriosolite coinage. There are a bewildering number of variations, some ever so slight . I wouldn't have the patience to collect their coinage seriously. Any Celtic coinage I've acquired over the years has been strictly by eye appeal.
@Al Kowsky after reading through the Coriosolite coin index in more detail I'm not sure we can say which coin came first. The author (John Hooker) concludes that the coins are from totally different lineages; Series X and Y came from different mints that were contemporary with each other. http://www.writer2001.com/cihoards3.htm My new coin appears to be a Series X, group C or D. This would make it the 3rd or 4th distinct design from the 'X' mint. http://www.writer2001.com/catd.htm The coin I bought from you is a Series Y group H which would be the first distinct design originating from the 'Y' mint. http://www.writer2001.com/cath.htm
Nvb, It looks like your attributions on both coins are solid . As you point out, you can only go so far without written records .
I enjoyed ID'ing the others, so...... Here's another Coriosolite stater from the remaining Series (mint) Z, group O *The picture below is a mashup of coins 87 and 89 from the study. My coin appears to have 87's obverse with 89's reverse http://www.writer2001.com/cato.htm If only these wonderfully artistic dies weren't let down by poor manufacturing.. a complete strike would be quite stunning!
Wow, this really is a beauty. Especially the metal seems to be of unusually high quality. The typical Coriosolites stater is made from greyish and often porous silver alloy, but yours looks like high quality silver or even electron. I have a few Coriosolites statere, but not as nice as yours. My best Celtic coin is this eastern Celtic Kroisbach stater.
Today I received an e-mail from ARTANCIENT of London with some of their latest offerings, and one offering I'm compelled to share with CT members. The coin pictured below is a Celtic stater coined by the Abrincatui Tribe of Western Gaul, circa 80-50 BC, AR 6.30 gm, 21.30 mm. This Celtic tribe was a close neighbor to the Coriosolites, and the similarities of their coinage is obvious. The obverse on this coin is truly stunning and struck in unusually high relief for this coin type . The portrait on this coin has a gentle expression despite the flaming hair and 3 circular tattoos on his cheek. I won't shock anyone with the asking price .
Very nice coin @Al Kowsky. ArtAncient only deals in the very high end, I am sure the asking price is substantial. Coincidentally I missed upgrading my own example by a hair last week. From what I gather my maximum pre-bid was a tie, but the other bidder submitted first =( Here is my Abrincatui stater. The styling is a little different and it lacks the cheek tatoo. Still a very cool and unique design: * Seems I'm locked from altering the title of this thread. I seeeee the spelling error, just can't fix it!
Nvb, That's a nice looking example, especially the reverse side which is well centered . You should have no problem correcting the spelling error by going into edit mode .
Thanks for sharing, NVB. The art on those coins is very intriguing and someday I'd like to have one or ten .