Aulerci Cenomani, 1/4 Stater, 2nd century BC
Gold - AU(55-58)
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Quarter stater “with wingless figure holding two weapons” (au personnage aptère aux deux armes"), type Delestrée 2157 (same dies).
Profile on the right of Apollonian origin, the hair is formed by rows rectangular locks, with a bun made of flame-like locks at the back of the head.
Androcephalic horse galloping to the right, driven by an charioteer holding the reins in one hand and in the other, a strap passing over the head and ending before it with a square divided by an X with a central pellet, similar to a vexilium. Under the horse's tail, a four-spoked wheel with a central hub. Below, a reclining figure to the right, wingless, holding a curved dagger in one hand and a spear in the other.
Division of staters “with the wingless figure holding two weapons” attributed to the Aulerci Cenomani, from the Le Mans region. The main observation is the significant off-center position of the obverse design, with only the cheek, the lower part of the hair, and the neck visible. However, these features are extremely well preserved. The reverse is also off-center, although the design is present on the entire blank, it is centered on the back of the horse and the figure. Despite the weak strike, we can see the four-spoked wheel under the horse's tail, mainly visible with the central hub, clearly visible on types Dt. 2157. The curved dagger, also very distinct, is another characteristic of this type. Despite the off-center strike, certain details, especially the back of the hair and the position of the curved weapon, indicate that this example was struck with the same dies as the example illustrated in Delestrée 2157.
1.64 gr
Gold
Although nowadays gold enjoys a reputation as the king of precious metals, that was not always the case. For example, in Ancient Greece, Corinthian bronze was widely considered to be superior. However, over the course of time, it has established itself as the prince of money, even though it frequently vies with silver for the top spot as the standard.
Nevertheless, there are other metals which appear to be even more precious than this duo, take for example rhodium and platinum. That is certain. Yet, if the ore is not as available, how can money be produced in sufficient quantities? It is therefore a matter of striking a subtle balance between rarity and availability.
But it gets better: gold is not only virtually unreactive, whatever the storage conditions (and trouser pockets are hardly the most precious of storage cases), but also malleable (coins and engravers appreciate that).
It thus represents the ideal mix for striking coins without delay – and we were not going to let it slip away!
The chemical symbol for gold is Au, which derives from its Latin name aurum. Its origins are probably extraterrestrial, effectively stardust released following a violent collision between two neutron stars. Not merely precious, but equally poetic…
The first gold coins were minted by the kings of Lydia, probably between the 8th and 6th century BC. Whereas nowadays the only gold coins minted are investment coins (bullion coins) or part of limited-edition series aimed at collectors, that was not always the case. And gold circulated extensively from hand to hand and from era to era, from the ancient gold deposits of the River Pactolus to the early years of the 20th century.
As a precious metal, in the same way as silver, gold is used for minting coins with intrinsic value, which is to say the value of which is constituted by the metal from which they are made. Even so, nowadays, the value to the collector frequently far exceeds that of the metal itself...
It should be noted that gold, which is naturally very malleable, is frequently supplemented with small amounts of other metals to render it harder.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of gold included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ gold or 999 parts of gold per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
