Item NU 2 Coin - 1/4 Stater, Ambiani, Britain, circa 115 BC

Summary

Small gold coin; Denomination: 1/4 Stater,
Issued by the Ambiani tribe.

This coin is from a series termed Gallo-Belgic B (Ambiani). Early Celtic coins used in Britain are referred to by reference to their place of manufacture, Gallo-Belgic coins were struck in what is today France and British coins in Southern England. The letters A, B etc following the issue designator indicate the chronological order of production as determined by archaeological and coin hoard studies, A being earliest, B next and so on. If an issuing tribe name is known it is added in brackets at the end. This coin was therefore struck in Gaul and was of the type found to be part of the second invasion, or large scale movement of people from France to England. Coins of this type are found on both sides of the English Channel and are attributed to the Ambiani some of who settled from Gaul to Britain about 125 BC. At first their coins had a recognisable head of Apollo on the reverse (see NU 1) but by the time of this issue, about ten years later, a series of simple lines sometimes called die defacement had replaced the head.

Obverse Description

A series of lines.

Reverse Description

A horse advancing to the left with a rider (or Nike) behind and above; below the horse is a lyre shaped object.

Edge Description

plain