COIN

A late Iron Age, 1st century BC copper alloy flat linear class II, Holman G3/6-1a and Allen type P1, potin dating to 60-45 BC. Holman (2016:10) writes "Until recently, Group G coins were still regarded as mostly dating from after the mid-first century BC. However, the discovery of four such coins at the oppidum of Corent, France indicates that they were probably already in existence by c.50 BC and it has been suggested that these, along with a few Group F types, may have been taken back to Gaul by Caesar's soldiers. If correct, this pushes the dating of Group G back to at least the mid-50s BC - and this for the later, single-crescent issues - although there is no reason why they could not have continued to be made for a few years afterwards." Part of the casting sprue is still visible on one side.

Obverse: A stylised linear head of Apollo facing right, formed by a circular border with two concave indentations to form the nose and a large ring and dot in the centre to form the eye and neckline below.

Reverse: A stylised linear butting bull, indeterminate direction, with one crescent above and an exergual line below, and a single central pellet.

Dimensions: diameter: 13.78mm, weight: 1.21g

Holman (2016:41) writes "This subgroup is stylistically the latest in the Flat Linear series. These coins are notable for their crudity, with their barely recognisable designs now bearing very little resemblance to those seen within Groups A to F. The obverse is dominated by the eye ring and central pellet and any attempt at an outline head has disappeared, although the facial crescents survive until the very last stages, leaving a very crude profile face. The reverse is also dominated by the central pellet and the bull is little more than an abstract pattern of lines similar to subgroup G2. There is usually one crescent above the bull. The central pellet again often varies in size between one side and the other, and again in one instance is absent from the obverse, the final appearance of a blind eye. Diameters are typically 12-13 mm and weights 0.9-1.3 g (mean 1.2 g)."

Similar Class II, Holman G3 potins on the database are PUBLIC-6DF04A, PUBLIC-5EB3C1, LON-FB4A39 and SUR-7D87E1.

References: Holman, D. 2016. 'A new classification system for the Flat Linear potin coinage', British Numismatic Journal 86, 1-67.

Fitzpatrick, A.P., 1991. 'A hoard of Iron Age class II potin coins from New Addington, Surrey', Surrey
Archaeological Collections 80, 147-152.

Hobbs, R. 1996. British Iron Age Coins in the British Museum. British Museum Press: London.

Coin references

No coin references available.