Item number: A378

Year: AD 20-40

Material: Silver

Size: 14.0 x 12.0 x 1.0 mm

Weight: 0.85 g

Provenance: Noonans 2022

This stater silver coin was minted by the Catuvellauni Celtic tribe in southeastern England during the Iron Age, a period before the complete Roman conquest of England. The coin is characterised by distinct Celtic motifs, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Celtic people.

The obverse of the coin depicts two totemic beasts facing right, though damage to the coin’s surface obscures their full appearance. Based on the remaining features, the slender creature above is likely a running deer, while the stockier, hoofed animal below appears to be a wild boar. To the left, there is a quintessentially Celtic design, composed of two concentric circles and connecting lines.

The reverse of the coin features a geometric pattern composed of circles and round beads, alongside two horses depicted with exaggerated circular knees. The smaller, more complete horse is positioned below, while the taller, less complete horse appears above.

This stater was unearthed in the present-day Berkshire region in southern England, specifically in Abingdon-on-Thames, which now falls under the jurisdiction of Oxfordshire. Historically, Abingdon served as the county town of Berkshire. Archaeological excavations have revealed human activity in the area dating back to the Paleolithic era.

During the Iron Age, Abingdon became a significant agricultural and commercial hub due to its strategic location. It is likely that this stater was crafted by local artisans in this area.

Between 55 BC and 54 BC, Julius Caesar led Roman legions on two expeditions into southern England. Although Caesar did not annex England into the Roman Empire, these incursions initiated a period of interaction between the Celtic tribes of southern England and Rome. It was not until AD 43 that Emperor Claudius commissioned Aulus Plautius to lead an invasion that successfully subdued the Catuvellauni and other Celtic tribes in southern England. This campaign resulted in the establishment of a Roman province and the consolidation of Roman rule in the region.

物件編號: A378

年代: 公元 20-40 年

材料: 銀

尺寸: 14.0 x 12.0 x 1.0 mm

重量: 0.85 g

來源: 諾南斯 2022

這是在羅馬尚未全面征服英格蘭的鐵器時代之際，位於英格蘭東南部的「卡圖維勞尼」凱爾特部落，鑄造極具凱爾特民族特色的斯塔特銀幣。

錢幣正面是面朝右方，一大一小的兩隻野獸圖騰，然而錢幣表面已有破損，難以判斷圖騰的完整樣貌。但以野獸的體態樣貌作為判斷，上方較苗條的應該是奔馳的野鹿，下方較為健碩的帶蹄野獸則是野豬。錢幣左側則是極具凱爾特風格，由兩個同心圓和線條組合的圖騰。

錢幣背面有圓圈和圓珠構成的幾何圖騰外，亦有兩隻以誇張的圓形作為膝蓋的馬匹。下方的馬匹個頭較為嬌小和完整，上方的馬匹則較為修長和不完整。

根據拍賣行的紀錄，這枚斯塔特出土於今英國南部的伯克郡。今日歸屬牛津郡管轄，但過去長期作為伯克郡郡治所在地的泰晤士河畔阿賓頓，經過考古學家的發掘，發現該地區自舊石器時代就有人類活動的痕跡。阿賓頓進入鐵器時代後，憑藉優良的地理位置成為周遭重要的農業和商業集散地，這枚斯塔特或許就是由此地的工匠打造。

公元前55至54年間，凱薩曾兩度率領羅馬兵團遠征南英格蘭。雖然凱薩未將英格蘭納入版圖，卻開啟英格蘭，尤其是南部地區的凱爾特部落跟羅馬之間的交流。要待公元43年，克勞狄一世指派奧魯斯·普勞提烏斯率軍征服卡圖維拉尼在內的南英格蘭凱爾特部落，羅馬帝國方才在當地建立行省並確立統治。