“The hoard of 300 potins, which are an early version of a coin, were found in Hillingdon, following a storm which helped reveal their position. Archaeologists have dated them to the 1st century BC, at a time when the Romans were beginning to establish themselves in Britain.“ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57833958
These potins are interesting both as Britain's first coins and because the design slowly developed from coins from the Greek colony of Massalia (Marseille). This is the type of coin the Cantii (from Kent) copied: Bronze hemiobol, 15mm, late 3rd to mid-2nd century BC, Massalia. Head of Apollo left. Bull butting right, MA above (for Massalia). Found in Kent. Over time, this design morphed into the rather abstract design found in the hoard: Potin, 85-50BC, Kent. Head of Apollo left. Bull butting right (S.63). Note: the obverse of the potin in the BBC photo has been rotated 90 degrees clockwise (it's meant to be Apollo), while the reverse is upside down (it's meant to be a charging bull). They were made quite some time before the Romans established themselves in Britain, but the coins show the influence the Romans were beginning to have through trade, at least in the far south east of England. I wrote about them here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/how-a-greek-god-inspired-the-first-british-coins.364799/
These coins came from the ground so their surfaces are no longer as struck. However, I am astonished at how those professionals cleaned them. The ONLY correct thing I saw was putting a liquid on the coin first to soften the deposits. Otherwise,I'm going believe that the time lapse video made the removal of the debris look half-fast. What would one of those coins sell for?
