After many years of focusing solely in Roman coinage (as far as ancients are concerned), I am just now starting to discover the coins of the Celtic peoples. The Celts, an ancient culture preceding the Romans, and of Indo-European origin populated many parts of Europe, including Gallia (France), Britain and Germany. In their conquest of Germany, the Romans first fought them and then assimilated the various Celtic tribes. Julius Caesar fought and ultimately defeated the Gallic Celts, also called Gauls, led by their chieftain Vercingetorix. Remnants of the Celtic culture have been found in various parts of Germany, including the region of Central Germany, and also in the South. The first of the coins shown below is the so-called Bird-man Quinarius, of the Nauheim type, of the Vangiones Celtic tribe of central Germany, coined around 100-50 BC. The second quinarius originates from Southern Germany, with the often seen springing horse. I do not have a exact reference for this coin. Interesting people the Celts, and unusual though appealing coin designs! regards, Eduard
Excellent description of the Celts and beautiful coins. Thanks for posting. Knowing nothing about the Celtic coins, are they difficult to find?
Very nice Eduard. Celtic coins are something I'm always wanting to get more of, but other Ancients and world coins seem to keep me from really getting into them at this point. I posted my one and only Celtic coin here... http://www.cointalk.com/forum/t34946/ ...but so far haven't ended up with anything else. I think I'll have to keep my eye out for a 'Bird-man Quinarius' as I think it's quite an interesting coin.
Very interesting, Eduard! Europe has such a wonderful history! If I lived there, I would probably dig up my whole back yard in hopes of finding old coins and other odd treasures...
Thank you all, i am glad you find these Celtics interesting. Like most of you, Celtic coinage (and their history as well) is an area i had not paid much attention to, if at all. However, just recently I realized that one of their major Oppida (Celtic settlements) is located not 30 minutes from where I live, and this piqued my interest. Unlike the Germanic tribes and the Romans, the Celts in what is now Germany had a penchant for building their settlements on densely wooded hill-tops surrounded by earth, stone and wood entrenchments. This lends their settlements a certain misterious aura. I can see now this will not be the last Celtics coins i buy! Ahearn, i don't know how scarce they are, but they are certainly less plentiful than Roman coinage. Also, Celtic coinage from other European areas may well be more plentiful than those from Germany for example. The bird-man for example seems to be quite scarce. Brian, thanks for showing us your Durotriges Stater. I had missed that. I is really a beautiful coin! and from a find no less. Very nice. I have heard of Chris Rudd as an expert on this coins, and may yet contact him. Regards, Eduard
