I find these tiny coins, minted by the Vangiones and Vindeliker Celtic tribes of central Germany really captivating. They were minted around 50 B.C, just before the Roman conquest of Germania, in a period when Celtic culture in central Europe was already vanishing. The highly stilized motives depicting horses and warriors, are quite mysterious, and full of symbol and mysticism. These particular examples are called the Bird-man, and the Tiny Dancing Man (or running warrior) carrying a Torques (ritual ring) and a snake. On better preserved examples than these, the features and the beauty of these coins is readily evident. I thought I would share these with you.
I only have one Celtic coin, but I really really like it. I particularly like how they have their own unique approach to the artistry on them, semi-fanciful, enigmatic and rather mysterious and macabre at times - much like Celtic culture.
Very cool! Whenever I think of ancient coins I usually think of Rome first (due to my natural bias towards ancient Roman study) but there are lots of others that are certainly worthy of study. Thanks for sharing! I wonder how many people will open this expecting to see Larry Bird or Paul Pierce? LOL
Extremely cool. I think that most of what we know today about Celtic culture comes from its remnants in Britanny and the British isles, as opposed to its origins in Central Europe. This includes, for example, legends about Cuchalain, the (probably mythical, I think) king of Ireland the various stories about Celtic religion put together by folks like the poet, William Butler Yeats, and his friend, Lady Gregory. I only mention this because it would be interesting to match up the devices on these coins with other cultural or political landmarks, like mythical figures (the owl is a symbol of Athena on Greek coins, for example) or political leaders like kings (tribal chieftains). I am very curious about this. Does anyone know of any work along these lines?
I'm fascinated by Celtic coins, but prices and expensive German-language references keep me from pursuing them more actively. Eduard, would you mind confirming the last one for me? Celtic Gaul - The Remi EL 1/4 stater - 1.48 g, 11mm c. 100 BC Celticized head Celtic horse galloping r. Castelin 516 var. Eastern Celts Imitating Alexander III AR drachm, 1st cent BC Stylized bust r. Stylized Zeus seated l. Kostial 947 Cunobelin British Celts, Catuvellauni AE unit, 1st cent. AD, before 40 Head l. CVNOBELIN Minter seated right, striking coin TASCIO Spink 342 Hercuniates Illyrian Celts Stylized bust of Zeus r. Stylized horseman l. Cf. Lanz 811
Thank you guys for your comments. I can appreciate that you, as I, see something special in Celtic culture, and their coins. The Celtic tribes which lived in what is now Germany populated predominantly central and southern Germany. They built stone fortifications in hill tops called Oppidae. These had been mostly abandoned by the time the Romans invaded, and their culture merged with the germanic tribes which succeeded them.
The results: It is NOT the Hercuniates. Eastern Celts, near Sirmium Imitating Philip II of Macedon AR drachm , 1st cent BC Kugelwange type Stylized bust of Zeus r. Stylized horse walking l. Cf. Kostial 503
