Atrebates and Regini, Caratacus (c. AD 40-51) AV Stater, 5.3...

Estimate

£70,000 - £80,000

Atrebates and Regini, Caratacus (c. AD 40-51) AV Stater, 5.35g.

More Information

[C]V-NO, vertical ear of grain. Rev. CAR-A-T, warrior on horseback right, holding spear and shield. (ABC -; VA -; BMC -). Extremely Fine. Unique. Auctioneer?s notes: We advise prospective bidders that due to the historical and cultural importance of this piece, we believe it would be highly unlikely to receive an export license from DCMS.When it was discovered by a metal detectorist in November of 2019, the Caratacus Gold Stater caused much excitement and discussion in the world of Iron Age numismatics. Lauded by experts such as Dr Philip de Jersey, David Sear, Dr John Sils and Professor Martin Henig, the unique gold piece of perhaps Britain?s most famous Celtic Chieftain, Caratacus, was sold at a Chris Rudd Auction in 2020, where it hammered for an impressive £80,000. It remains the most valuable Iron Age British coin ever sold. While silver coins of Caratacus have been known of for centuries, this stater is the first, and remains the only, gold coin ever discovered of the Atrebatic ruler. Famous for fighting a guerilla war against Roman forces in the aftermath of the Invasion of Britain in AD 43 for nearly a decade, his forces were defeated at the Battle of Caer Caradoc in AD 50, and he was later captured. Paraded through Rome in a triumph, his courageous speech before the Senate and Emperor Claudius so impressed the Romans that he was spared. Given a house in Rome, he lived in peace for the rest of his life.This unique gold stater borrows imagery from earlier Celtic gold coins, including, most remarkably, the obverse. This design, inspired by the gold coinage of Cunobelin, confirms that Caratacus was indeed a son of the British King, with the inscription CV-NO flanking an ear of barley. Similar to the images appearing on earlier coins of Verica, the reverse depicts a warrior on horseback, crucially surrounded by the Latin ?CARAT?, leaving no doubt as to the issuer?s identity.