Item number: A385

Year: 65 BC

Material: Gold

Size: 16.6 x 16.2 x 2.7 mm

Weight: 6.3 g

Provenance: Noonans 2022

This item is a Durotrigan Chute Type gold stater struck circa 65 BC. The obverse displays an abstract laureate head of Apollo facing right. At the same time, the reverse features a disjointed horse facing left, adorned with a stylized “crab” above which intricate pellet detailing is incorporated.

Durotrigan coinage is the most prevalent among the coinage found on the Isle of Wight, primarily concentrated in two main areas. According to Imogen Wellington, author of “Iron Age Coinage on the Isle of Wight,” the first area was along the central chalk ridge of the island, situated on non-agricultural upland downs. The other significant distribution area for Durotrigan units was along the western coast of the island. The notable western concentration correlates well with Late Iron Age pottery finds from the Isle of Wight, which predominantly feature southwestern pottery like Poole Harbour ware, primarily found on the south and western sides of the island.

The Durotriges inhabited territories spanning Dorset, parts of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Hampshire. According to R. D. Van Arsdell, author of Celtic Coinage of Britain, the design of the first coinage issued by the Durotriges was influenced by southern British tribes, such as the Atrebates, as they were still part of the southern British economy. These coins circulated beyond the Durotriges’ tribal borders.

However, the influence of southern Britain soon waned, as the tribe transitioned to an Armorican-style silver coinage by the middle of the Gallic War.

After their first issues, the Durotriges began to maintain extensive trading contacts with the Armorican peninsula, resulting in their coinage differing significantly from that of other British tribes. Armorican coins were primarily composed of silver and billon, contrasting with the predominantly gold composition of Durotrigan coinage after their initial issues. This shift suggests economic isolation, as Durotrigan coins circulated less beyond tribal boundaries over time.

The reasons for this shift remain uncertain—whether due to the preferences of their Armorican partners or scarcity of gold bullion. By the time of the Gallic War, Durotrigan reliance on silver coins was exclusive, exacerbated by disruption in continental trade following Roman conquests in Armorica. Concurrently, competition from other tribes in Britain marginalized Durotrigan access to broader British trade networks. Consequently, Durotrigan silver coins ceased circulation around 30 BC, replaced by increasingly crude bronze staters. The smaller silver denominations disappeared entirely.

Durotrigan coinage likely ceased by the mid-40s AD, as Vespasian’s legions conquered tribal territories during the Roman invasion. The tribe resisted fiercely, leading to suppression of their coinage. Durotrigan coins are occasionally found in late Roman hoards, though likely as curiosities rather than actively circulating currency at the time of deposit.

物件編號: A385

年代: 公元前 65 年

材料: 金

尺寸: 16.6 x 16.2 x 2.7 mm

重量: 6.3 g

來源: 諾南斯 2022

這枚物品是約公元前65年鑄造的杜羅特里吉傘型金斯塔特。正面展示了面向右的抽象的阿波羅華冠頭像，背面則呈現一匹不連貫，面朝左側的馬。馬的上方飾有獨特的「螃蟹」圖案，並加入細緻的顆粒紋飾。

杜羅特里吉的貨幣在懷特島上是最常見的，主要集中在兩個區域。根據《懷特島上的鐵器時代貨幣》的作者伊莫金·威靈頓(Imogen Wellington)的說法，第一個區域位於島上中央的白堊岩山脊，屬於非農業的高地。杜羅特里吉單位的另一主要分佈區域位於島的西岸。這種西部集中的特色與懷特島晚鐵器時代的陶器發現相符，這些陶器主要來自島的南部和西部，例如普爾港陶器。

杜羅特里吉部落分布在多塞特、薩默塞特、威爾特郡和漢普郡的部分地區。根據《不列顛凱爾特貨幣》的作者阿斯德爾(R. D. Van Arsdell)的說法，在杜羅特里吉發行第一枚貨幣之時，由於仍然屬於南不列顛經濟的一部分，因此貨幣在設計上受到南部的部落，如阿特拉巴特的影響，其錢幣在部落之外流通。

然而，南不列顛的影響力很快就消逝了，因為在高盧戰爭中期，該部族已轉向採用阿摩里卡(Armorica)風格的銀幣。

在第一版貨幣發行後，杜羅特里吉開始與當今法國諾曼第地區的阿摩里卡保持廣泛貿易聯繫，因此其貨幣與其他不列顛部族大相逕庭。

阿摩里卡的貨幣主要以銀和白銅為主，而杜羅特里吉發行的貨幣則以黃金為主。杜羅特里吉的貨幣在最初發行後，便漸漸排除其他主流的不列顛貨幣，顯示他們在經濟上的孤立。隨著時間推移和部落的孤立加深，他們的貨幣在部族以外的流通也越來越少。

這種轉變的原因尚不明確，可能是由於他們與阿摩里卡夥伴的偏好，或者僅僅是因為金礦的匱乏。到了高盧戰爭時期，杜羅特里吉完全依賴銀幣，隨著羅馬在阿摩里卡的征服打亂了大陸貿易，這種依賴加劇。與此同時，來自不列顛各部落的競爭，進一步邊緣化了杜羅特里吉對更廣泛不列顛貿易網絡的接觸。因此，杜羅特里吉的銀幣在公元前30年左右停止流通，被日益粗糙的青銅幣所取代。較小的銀幣面值則完全消失。

杜羅特里吉的貨幣可能在公元40年代中期隨著維斯帕先的軍隊征服部落領土而結束。部落對羅馬入侵展開了艱難的抵抗，其貨幣隨之被殘酷鎮壓。偶爾可以在後期的羅馬貨物堆中找到杜羅特里吉的貨幣，但這些可能只是當時存放時的珍品，而非活躍的流通貨幣。