20
Vellaracan. Corieltavi. c.AD 35-45. Celtic silver half unit. 11mm. 0.49g.
1/2
Auctioneer has chosen not to publish the price of this lot
Norwich, Norfolk
Description
Vellaracan. c.AD 35-45. Silver half unit. 11mm. 0.49g. Central wreath with brick-like leaves, all pointing to centre, VEII[A] above, (VE ligate), [R]ACN below./ Horse right, dashed linear mane, belted chest and belly, double upper forelegs, hindlegs joined by diagonal line, VE[II?] above (VE ligate), C below, P under tail. ABC 1911, VA−, BMC−, S−. CCI 22.1107 (this coin). Good EF, lightly toned silver, boldly struck both sides, clear inscription, immaculate blemish-free surfaces. Without doubt the finest known specimen. One of only two in private hands and the first to be offered for public sale. EXTREMELY RARE only 13 others recorded including 12 from the Hallaton hoards, Leicestershire, 2000-03 (all safely stored in museums, never to be sold) and a chipped one from Owmby, Lincs. A unique opportunity to acquire a numismatically important coin.
For over 20 years this excruciatingly elusive type has been associated with Vepo because the legend above the horse was thought to be VEP. Not any more! Having looked closely at this incredibly crisp example and the one illustrated in Hoards, Hounds and Helmets, University of Leicester, 2011, p.180, we’re now convinced that it’s VEII, not VEP. We also think that the obverse N contains a barless A, so that the lower half of the inscription can be read as RACAN. Moreover, we believe that the P under the horse’s tail could represent a tail-less R, that a barless A is tied to the inner hindleg, and that there might be a letter N under the C (off the flan in this case). In other words, the reverse legend is almost the same as the obverse legend, but laid out differently. Our key conclusion from this new and somewhat iffy reading is that Vellaracan[os?], if that is his name, has no obvious link with Vepo, none whatsoever. Two other points reinforce this conclusion: 1. No coin of Vepo carries his name on the obverse, let alone on both sides of the coin. 2. No Vepo horse has a mane, with the sole exception of ABC 1884 which is probably a late and unauthorised imitation. The numismatic and historical significance of this mint-state coin and the fact that it is the first of its type to come onto the open market cannot be over-emphasised.
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Vellaracan. c.AD 35-45. Silver half unit. 11mm. 0.49g. Central wreath with brick-like leaves, all pointing to centre, VEII[A] above, (VE ligate), [R]ACN below./ Horse right, dashed linear mane, belted chest and belly, double upper forelegs, hindlegs joined by diagonal line, VE[II?] above (VE ligate), C below, P under tail. ABC 1911, VA−, BMC−, S−. CCI 22.1107 (this coin). Good EF, lightly toned silver, boldly struck both sides, clear inscription, immaculate blemish-free surfaces. Without doubt the finest known specimen. One of only two in private hands and the first to be offered for public sale. EXTREMELY RARE only 13 others recorded including 12 from the Hallaton hoards, Leicestershire, 2000-03 (all safely stored in museums, never to be sold) and a chipped one from Owmby, Lincs. A unique opportunity to acquire a numismatically important coin.
For over 20 years this excruciatingly elusive type has been associated with Vepo because the legend above the horse was thought to be VEP. Not any more! Having looked closely at this incredibly crisp example and the one illustrated in Hoards, Hounds and Helmets, University of Leicester, 2011, p.180, we’re now convinced that it’s VEII, not VEP. We also think that the obverse N contains a barless A, so that the lower half of the inscription can be read as RACAN. Moreover, we believe that the P under the horse’s tail could represent a tail-less R, that a barless A is tied to the inner hindleg, and that there might be a letter N under the C (off the flan in this case). In other words, the reverse legend is almost the same as the obverse legend, but laid out differently. Our key conclusion from this new and somewhat iffy reading is that Vellaracan[os?], if that is his name, has no obvious link with Vepo, none whatsoever. Two other points reinforce this conclusion: 1. No coin of Vepo carries his name on the obverse, let alone on both sides of the coin. 2. No Vepo horse has a mane, with the sole exception of ABC 1884 which is probably a late and unauthorised imitation. The numismatic and historical significance of this mint-state coin and the fact that it is the first of its type to come onto the open market cannot be over-emphasised.
Chris Rudd Auction 185
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Norfolk
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