Catuvellauni & Trinovantes, Cunobelin AD 8-41 Gold Stater – Excessively rare

Catuvellauni & Trinovantes, Cunobelin, gold Stater, AD 8-41, Small Crescent type, Class 7d, Classic A. Obv. Corn ear flanked by CA MV. Rev. Horse leaping facing right, small crescent above, CVNO below. 5.39g, die axis 3h (ABC Unlisted; DK 569). The reverse struck slightly off centre and with a few small contact marks, nonetheless a extraordinary coin, struck in a lustrous light rose gold with choice fields, the small crescent clear above the horse, most likely the only specimen available to commerce. Excessively rare, quite likely the only example available to commerce.

Reported as found in Upminster, Essex, 2020.
Registered and logged with the CCI, number 20.0474

This coin has a small crescent rather than a large crescent above the horse. The example listed in Divided Kingdoms (DK) it is described as ‘unique’ however this 2nd example has come to light and is a much better strike than the coin in DK (569). This coin comes from an extremely artistic reverse die – in particular the horses head is finely detailed relative to most other Celtic issues.

There are only five known Classic Crescent types in total. Three large crescents (see our other Cunobelin listing) and two Small Crescents. Being that this is the nicest of the two known Small Crescent types this coin is likely irreplaceable and very important. Every other type/class for Cunobelin is relatively abundant apart from the excessively rare Class 7d, to which this and our other offering belongs.