Aulerci Eburovices, Hemistater, 2nd-1st centuries BC
Gold - AU(50-53)
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.
Profile on the left, very geometric, cheeky, with exuberant hair. The hair is split in two by a beaded cord: above, the strands are represented by two “mistletoe branches” (beaded segments), with the end of the lower one connected by a line to the penultimate bead of the upper one. The locks of the lower part are formed by three parallel curves, above the shortest one, a globule.
The eye is represented by a large dotted triangle, the nose materialized by its outer tip, and below, the mouth is minimized to a dot. From the ear, represented by a semicircle, emerges a beaded cord curved towards the chin. Below the hair, a boar with bristled hair upwards, its back outwards, with a globule between its legs.
Highly stylized horse galloping to the right, surmounted by the remains of a charioteer, shaped like a horizontal insect, from which emerge filiform arms, one positioned as if holding the reins (visible under its jaw), the other going over the horse's head. Beneath the horse, a boar-standard with bristled hair, to the right, a globule between its legs. In front of the horse, a motif with three branches.
Hemistater “with wild boar” is mainly attributed to the Aulerci Eburovices tribe (from the Evreux region). Part of the larger group of coinage attributed to the Lower Seine tribes, this hemistater belongs to the type featuring the three-branched motif before the horse on the reverse (Dt. 2404). Despite the coin being slightly shifted to the left of the representation, the beginning of this motif, in the form of a small wave, can be seen on the animal's chest. Struck on a blank that is slightly shorter than the average 18 mm observed, this example is generally very well preserved despite a small striking weakness on the charioteer. The motifs are very well preserved and have been minimally affected by circulation wear. Very pleasing to the eye due to the singularity of its representations. Delestrée, Serie 402, 2404 ; Scheers, Ebur. 1980, série Id, classe II, 35-41.
3.19 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(50-53)” 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(50-53)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins displays sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. The number (50-53) indicates that at least half of the original luster remains. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
You might be wondering why there are different ranges of numbers behind the same abbreviation. Well, we’ll explain:
The numbers are subdivisions within a category, showing that the state of conversation is the same but coins may be at the higher or lower end of the scale. In the case of AU, the range (55-58) indicates that the luster is better preserved in than a similar coin described as (50-53).
