I was able to buy my first Celtic rainbowcup (German: Regenbogenschüsselchen, Dutch: regenboogschotel). It's probably a billion one, because it's completely black (making it difficult to photograph - in hand, the details are better). Observe: Triskelion with dots at end of spirals. Wreath around, with encircled dots at two ends. Reverse: Three encircled circles, pyramidal zig-zag line around. Dotted circles below. Weight: 5.6 g, diameter 17mm. Possible type (not sure): Schörghuber 556 Castelin 1097 Flesche 402 Provenance: Found near Geldermalsen, the Netherlands. Ex private collection 09-2019. The coin looks similar to this one: I've two questions for the cointalk community: 1) Could this perhaps also be a silver coin? I could not find many billion examples. 2) If you have a Rainbowcup, please post them!
This is my rainbow cup, apparently found near Empel (Den Bosch), a Celtic sanctuary in what's now the Netherlands. Batavi. Potin ‘regenboogschoteltje’ or Rainbow Cup, c. 50 BC-0. Obv. convex: triquetrum. Rev. concave: 4 Celtic circles with small circles inside. 15 mm, 4.46 gr.
I did not know of the existence. Do they all come from the NL? Mooi muntje, en leuk dat het van eigen bodem is!
@chrsmat71 The name "rainbowcup" derives from the folk belief that they could be found in ploughed fields after heavy rainfall, when the rain washed the dirt from the gold or silver coins. Hence the belief that gold is found at the bottom of a rainbow. They are relatively scarce (though I was able to buy mine as part of a lot for a really reasonable price). @Pellinore I think this is the same type, although the weight is a bit lower. It's a nice example. @Limes Ha fellow Dutchy No, rainbowcups are found more commonly in the west and south of Germany. However, the billion ones, I've been told, are more commonly found in the Netherlands. They were probably minted by the Batavii, i.e. the first Dutch coins.
