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Cunobelinus Biga. Star Type. Sills class 1, dies 6/8a. c.AD1-41. Gold stater. 17mm. 5.49g.
1/2
Auctioneer has chosen not to publish the price of this lot
Norwich, Norfolk
Description
Cunobelinus Biga. Star Type. Sills class 1, dies 6/8a. c.AD1-41. Gold stater. 17mm. 5.49g. CAMVL monogram in central panel, on stylised vertical wreath, heart-shaped hidden face in top right and bottom left angles, beaded V in top left and bottom right./ Two facing horses left, four-spoked wheel below with pellets in angles, leaf and star above, [CV]NOBELINI in curved exergue. ABC−, VA−, BMC−, DK−, S−. CCI 21.0070 (this coin). EF, rose gold, full CAMVL, bold biga. Found Bishops Stortford, Herts. EXCESSIVELY RARE only three recored, this reverse die UNIQUE?
The reverse design’s theme is that of consenting union between two powerful tribes (cf. Chris Rudd List 111, pp.4-6). Its glorious leaf puts that same heart-shaped outline around a stylised Trinovantian branch, emblematic perhaps of Camulodunon, that had embellished gold staters since the days of the great Ađđedomaros - the last king to have held sway in in both territories. May we even read homage, in the horses and Sun’s chariot wheel, to an honoured predecessor whose name meant 'great in chariots’? Even the curving layout of Cunobelinus’ name echoes DK 483, first in its own series. But above all, the central image shows two wild tribal mares, divine beings with phallic faces, prancing in perfect synchrony, heads held high as if being put through a chariot manoeuvre. But they are without harness and they have no driver. Their performance is as consensual and perfectly in step as the dance of courting swans: that impression, with their high-held necks, must have been intentional. Of course one is also supposed to picture real-life, elite charioteering. There must have been stupendous games at Dubnovellaunos’ funeral in Camulodunum, if he is indeed the man in the Lexden mound. These enriched gold staters would have made handsome prizes and impressive largesse to sweeten relations with potentially disgruntled Trinovantian aristocrats as Cunobelinus embarked upon his very long reign. After all, this first coinage, in all metals, was confined to Trinovantian territory: he ruled, in effect, as a Trinovantian king until, presumably, Tasciovanos died, perhaps by around AD 8, he could assume his father’s mantle, and could redesign his coinage as sole ruler of both realms (ABC 2774).
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Cunobelinus Biga. Star Type. Sills class 1, dies 6/8a. c.AD1-41. Gold stater. 17mm. 5.49g. CAMVL monogram in central panel, on stylised vertical wreath, heart-shaped hidden face in top right and bottom left angles, beaded V in top left and bottom right./ Two facing horses left, four-spoked wheel below with pellets in angles, leaf and star above, [CV]NOBELINI in curved exergue. ABC−, VA−, BMC−, DK−, S−. CCI 21.0070 (this coin). EF, rose gold, full CAMVL, bold biga. Found Bishops Stortford, Herts. EXCESSIVELY RARE only three recored, this reverse die UNIQUE?
The reverse design’s theme is that of consenting union between two powerful tribes (cf. Chris Rudd List 111, pp.4-6). Its glorious leaf puts that same heart-shaped outline around a stylised Trinovantian branch, emblematic perhaps of Camulodunon, that had embellished gold staters since the days of the great Ađđedomaros - the last king to have held sway in in both territories. May we even read homage, in the horses and Sun’s chariot wheel, to an honoured predecessor whose name meant 'great in chariots’? Even the curving layout of Cunobelinus’ name echoes DK 483, first in its own series. But above all, the central image shows two wild tribal mares, divine beings with phallic faces, prancing in perfect synchrony, heads held high as if being put through a chariot manoeuvre. But they are without harness and they have no driver. Their performance is as consensual and perfectly in step as the dance of courting swans: that impression, with their high-held necks, must have been intentional. Of course one is also supposed to picture real-life, elite charioteering. There must have been stupendous games at Dubnovellaunos’ funeral in Camulodunum, if he is indeed the man in the Lexden mound. These enriched gold staters would have made handsome prizes and impressive largesse to sweeten relations with potentially disgruntled Trinovantian aristocrats as Cunobelinus embarked upon his very long reign. After all, this first coinage, in all metals, was confined to Trinovantian territory: he ruled, in effect, as a Trinovantian king until, presumably, Tasciovanos died, perhaps by around AD 8, he could assume his father’s mantle, and could redesign his coinage as sole ruler of both realms (ABC 2774).
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