Hi, Is there any good reference on the ubiquitous "Celtic" Ring Money? There seems to be so many of these simple rings that are sold on ebay, but the authenticity of it seems to be very questionable. Personally, I am more interested in the ones that have nobs or other designs associated with them... Thanks, QG PS: Sorry about the double post. Don't know how that happened
No, there aren't any references out there as these are certainly not money in any form or concept. Somewhere along the line someone just said 'Hey, these are circles. Coins are circles also. Let's try and sell them as coins!'. Since then it has stuck. Some may argue otherwise for the coin idea, but there just isnt any evidence. There is however extensive evidence for what they really are, which are simple strap connectors. They were used on horse tack, straps, belts, and many other used. We know this because they have been excavated in that manner. As coins though, just a fantasy, and best left to Ebay!
I've always suspected something of the sort. I'm glad to hear an experienced numismatist confirm. Collect them as artifacts I suppose, but even then, how would you know they're ancient? I could easily make one in my garage that looked the same.
I heard the association with horse straps, but I would suspect a larger ring for that purpose as opposed to ones that are about 30mm or smaller (and not circular). I can understand the ones that have simple designs, but the more elaborate ones seems to be too much trouble for use as horse straps connectors. @John, I suspect, like anything else, you purchase from a reputable dealer as opposed to ebay, but even so, the authenticity is hard to verify, especially the simple ones.
Nope, even the small rings are used for that purpose. I would have to do some real digging, but I have seen pictures of equine equipment which shows many very small rings incorporated. Anyway, check this website: http://www.calgarycoin.com/reference/articles/celticrings/celticrings.htm
Certainly some/most of these may be horse strap rings. I'm not willing to declare than none of them were used for other purposes (human decoration, chainmail, beaded curtains, heaven know what else) but I see no reason to believe that one of these purposes was money. All is a dangerous word. I suspect that if these had any monetary use it was as scrap metal by weight.
Scrap would be the most reasonable explanation. Years ago I wrote a paper for an anthropology class on 'bog bodies' in Europe and UK. I found several references and photos of ritual deposits of hundreds and some of thousands of rings. It may be possible that these deposits and their association with burials contributed to their being interpreted as 'coins'. What were they, and what was the value they had? Nobody will know. They may have had religious significance, or, they may have simply had value as scrap metal and thus been seen as wealth by those who buried them. But, that is just one example. And certainly not coins!
