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Cunobelinus Flower. Catuvellauni & Trinovantes. c.AD42-43. Celtic silver unit. 14mm. 1.27g.
Cunobelinus Flower.c.AD42-43. Silver unit. 14mm. 1.27g. Central flower, two scrolled leaflets at base of stalk, CA to left, MV to right, beaded border./ Horse stepping right, head turned back, CVNO below, triad of dots above, before and below, beaded border. ABC 2885, VA 2049, BMC 1867A, S 305. Unobtrusive striking crack, otherwise virtually as minted, Good EF, bright silver, large heavyweight flan, lovely flower. Perfectly centred both sides, complete inscription with every letter neatly engraved. An extraordinary coin of exceptional quality. The finest we’ve seen of this delightfully designed type. Found Bishops Stortford, Herts. EXTREMELY RARE only 14 others recorded, including one in the British Museum.
We believe that this superbly symmetrical silver unit – surely the work of a Roman-trained engraver – was almost certainly issued after the death of Cunobelinus and belongs alongside the Classic Left stater ABC 2804. The flamboyant flower arrangement has a funereal fragrance, a costly commemorative feeling, as one might expect of a floral tribute to ‘Britannorum rex’. Indeed the three-part structure of this flower arrangement (central part with two matching lateral parts) is highly reminiscent of the flower motif above the left-facing horse on ABC 2804, and the corn ear with two poppy heads (another tripartite design) on Dubno’s quarter stater, ABC 3008. Below is a vegetal hidden face with droopy moustache (spirit of the recently deceased?). The fact that the horse is looking back, facing left, links it to the Classic Left stater, ABC 2804; and the way that it is stepping – right foreleg raised high, left hindleg raised lower – seems to tie it to Dubno’s quarter stater, ABC 3008. Another point worth noting is that Cunobelinus Flower is the only Cuno-branded coin with three pellet triads, purposely positioned around the horse to form an inverted triangle; which suggests to us that this extraordinary silver unit is a sacred commemorative issue. Issued by whom? Our guess is Dubno, in other words, the historical Togodumnus of Cassius Dio (Histories 61.33). Why isn’t it branded DVBNO? Perhaps because his succession to the throne of Camulodunon was still in dispute or awaiting the blessing of the emperor Claudius.
Cunobelinus Flower.c.AD42-43. Silver unit. 14mm. 1.27g. Central flower, two scrolled leaflets at base of stalk, CA to left, MV to right, beaded border./ Horse stepping right, head turned back, CVNO below, triad of dots above, before and below, beaded border. ABC 2885, VA 2049, BMC 1867A, S 305. Unobtrusive striking crack, otherwise virtually as minted, Good EF, bright silver, large heavyweight flan, lovely flower. Perfectly centred both sides, complete inscription with every letter neatly engraved. An extraordinary coin of exceptional quality. The finest we’ve seen of this delightfully designed type. Found Bishops Stortford, Herts. EXTREMELY RARE only 14 others recorded, including one in the British Museum.
We believe that this superbly symmetrical silver unit – surely the work of a Roman-trained engraver – was almost certainly issued after the death of Cunobelinus and belongs alongside the Classic Left stater ABC 2804. The flamboyant flower arrangement has a funereal fragrance, a costly commemorative feeling, as one might expect of a floral tribute to ‘Britannorum rex’. Indeed the three-part structure of this flower arrangement (central part with two matching lateral parts) is highly reminiscent of the flower motif above the left-facing horse on ABC 2804, and the corn ear with two poppy heads (another tripartite design) on Dubno’s quarter stater, ABC 3008. Below is a vegetal hidden face with droopy moustache (spirit of the recently deceased?). The fact that the horse is looking back, facing left, links it to the Classic Left stater, ABC 2804; and the way that it is stepping – right foreleg raised high, left hindleg raised lower – seems to tie it to Dubno’s quarter stater, ABC 3008. Another point worth noting is that Cunobelinus Flower is the only Cuno-branded coin with three pellet triads, purposely positioned around the horse to form an inverted triangle; which suggests to us that this extraordinary silver unit is a sacred commemorative issue. Issued by whom? Our guess is Dubno, in other words, the historical Togodumnus of Cassius Dio (Histories 61.33). Why isn’t it branded DVBNO? Perhaps because his succession to the throne of Camulodunon was still in dispute or awaiting the blessing of the emperor Claudius.
Chris Rudd Auction 180
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