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COIN
Unique ID: KENT-7D21E9
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Published 
A single gold coin found in the vicinity of previous small hoard of 7 Iron Age gold coins, reported as 2018 T836.
Description: The coin is a Continental Iron Age gold half stater of a type produced in the Somme Valley area of France (ancient Gaul). The type is ultimately derived from the gold staters issued in the name of Philip II of Macedon in the later fourth century BC, but is likely to have been issued from the 3rd to early 2nd century BC.
The coin belongs to the 'bearded head series' (Scheers 1977, 225 series 2 class 1 var. b; DT 11 ("à la cigogne"); Sills 2003, 52 class 2 no. 183). Unlike the published examples, it lacks a pseudo-inscription in the exergue. The charioteer's hair is also distinctive on this coin.
Obverse: Bearded head, right.
Reverse: Single-horsed chariot, right, driven by charioteer with long, curling hair; below, bird (or carnyces?).
Measurements: 15.35mm in diameter, 2.27mm thick and 3.88g in weight
Discussion:
Coins of the 'bearded head' series are found in the Somme valley area of Northern France and have also been recorded in Britain in Essex (Orsett hoard) and Kent (Margate, BM 1919,0213.773 and Milton, near Sittingbourne, BM 1919,0213.771) (Sills ibid. 60).
Although this coin is somewhat earlier in date than the latest of the seven coins previously recorded from the same site, the group also includes a Gallo-Belgic coin from the second century BC. Like that coin, this one exhibits some degree of wear and as a continental import it is plausible that it circulated for some time before its ultimate deposition in Kent. As the previous group of 7 consists entirely of continental imports this coin is likely to be part of the same find.
Notes:
This coin is an addendum to the Hoo Peninsula hoard 2018T836
Find of note status
This is a find of note and has been designated: For inclusion in British Numismatic Journal ‘Coin Register’
Subsequent actions
Current location of find: British Museum
Subsequent action after recording: Acquired by museum after being declared Treasure
Treasure details
Treasure case tracking number: 2019T613
Chronology
Broad period: IRON AGE
Period from: IRON AGE
Period to: IRON AGE
Date from: Circa 125 BC
Date to: Circa 100 BC
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Thickness: 2.27 mm
Weight: 3.88 g
Diameter: 15.35 mm
Discovery dates
Date(s) of discovery: Saturday 13th April 2019
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Treasure case number: 2019T613
Museum accession number: 2022,4011.1
Materials and construction
Primary material: Gold
Manufacture method: Struck or hammered
Completeness: Complete
Coin data (numismatics)
Denomination: Half stater
Ruler/issuer: Uninscribed
Tribe: Uninscribed
Geographic provenance: Continental Gallo-Belgic
Obverse description: Head right
Reverse description: Head right, Reverse: An androcephalous (human faced) horse led by a charioteer extending a vexillum in front of it, riding over a fallen enemy.
Die axis measurement: 9 o'clock
Degree of wear: Hardly worn: extremely fine
Status: Regular
Coin references
No coin references available.
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Medway (Unitary Authority)
District: Medway (Unitary Authority)
To be known as: Hoo Peninsula
Spatial coordinates
Grid reference source: GPS (from the finder)
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delestree, L.-P. and Tache, M. | Nouvel Atlas des Monnaies Gauloises | ||||||
| Scheers, S | 1977 | Traite de Numismatiqe Celtique. II. La Gaule Belgique | Paris | Centre de Recherches d'Histoire Ancienne, Serie Numismatique 24 | |||
| Sills, J.A. | 2003 | Gaulish and Early British Gold Coinage | London | Spinks |
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Timeline of associated dates
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