Lot 2 - Numismatic Auction 8

Gaul - Caleti. Gold stater, ca. 80-50 BC. Obv. Random pattern of lines. Rev. Horse springing to left; below, rosette. A charioteer on a ... Read more
Starting price:
1.500,00 CHF

Bids

Lot status:
Auction closed

Description

Gaul - Caleti. Gold stater, ca. 80-50 BC. Obv. Random pattern of lines. Rev. Horse springing to left; below, rosette. A charioteer on a horse. LT 8694; DT 92; Scheers 77. Gold. 7.86 g.
VF

This type of later stater, issued shortly before or during Caesar’s Gallic Wars, shows the extreme evolution of Gallic monetary types in comparison to the Greek prototypes, which were imitated by generations of Celtic engravers. The face of Apollo has completely disappeared, to finally be replaced by a geometric decoration difficult to interpret. On the reverse, normally featuring the traditional Greek chariot, only remains the horse and the charioteer, which even here, are still barely identifiable. The wheel has become a flower placed in the periphery. It is not surprising that coins having reached this level of abstraction, were not collected before the 20th century because of the modernity of their forms. There was even a time, when they were often destroyed because suspected of coming from the underworld...

Ce type de statère tardif, émis peu avant ou à l’occasion des Guerres des Gaules de César, montre l’extrême évolution des types monétaires gaulois au regard des prototypes grecs repris par des générations de graveurs celtes. Le visage d’Apollon a totalement disparu pour être finalement remplacé par un décor géométrique difficile à interpréter. Au revers, du char de course grec traditionnel, il ne reste que le cheval et l’aurige, et encore sous des traits à peine identifiables. La roue est devenue une fleur placée en périphérie. Rien d’étonnant au fait que des monnaies ayant atteint ce degré d’abstraction ne soient pas collectionnées avant le XXe siècle, en raison de la modernité de leurs formes. Auparavant, elles étaient souvent détruites car suspectées de venir des enfers…
Only registered and authorized users are allowed to place bids.

Please use the registration form to send us your participation request, or, if you are already registered and authorized, use the login box on the top.

For any information please contact info@cfnumis.com

Timetable

Pre-bidding - End
04 07 2017 17:00 CEST

Room auction - Start
05 07 2017 15:00 CEST