Aulerci Cenomani, Stater, 2nd century BC
Gold - AU(55-58) - Delestrée:2153
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.
Stater attributed to the Aulerci Cenomani (Le Mans region, France), from the series known as 'with wingless figure holding two weapons' ("au personnage aptère aux deux armes"). Delestrée, Classe IV, 2153, Latour 6870, Scheers, Lyon 932 et Scheers, Danicourt 250.
Stylised head in Armorican style, to left, of Apollonian origin, the hair formed by three rows of crescent-shaped locks pulled back, with a bun made of flame-shaped locks behind. Where the ear should be, two parallel lines emerging from two locks, are ending on the cheek in an adornment formed by three pellets disposed as a triangle. In front of the forehead, a large hair S-shaped lock.
Winged androcephalic horse to the left. On the croup, a highly stylised charioteer holding the reins in one hand and a band in the other, which passes over the head of the horse and ends before its head in a square divided by a cross similar to a vexilium. Under the tail, a 4-spoked wheel. Below the androcephalic horse, a reclining figure to the left, wingless, holding a weapon in each hand: a curved dagger in one, a spear in the other.
Stater ‘with wingless figure, with two weapons’ ("au personnage aptère aux deux armes"), attributed to the Aulerci Cenomani tribe, from western France, in the Le Mans region. This type has the distinctive feature of having its motifs (the portrait and the representations on the reverse) turned to the left, whereas the other types in the series are all turned to the right. The coin, whose types are engraved in pure Celtic style, is in remarkable condition. Despite the irregular shape of the blank, the portrait is perfectly centred, as is the entire reverse type, with only the spear and the top of the charioteer off-centre. An interesting detail is that the lower part of the charioteer is identical to the lock of hair in front of the portrait's forehead. Overall, the details of the coin's designs are extremely well preserved, with minimal wear from circulation, revealing the unique features that characterise Celtic engraving. Delestrée, Classe IV, 2153, Latour 6870, Scheers, Lyon 932 et Scheers, Danicourt 250.
7.36 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.
