A 2,200-year-old Celtic gold coin discovered near Leipzig by a metal detectorist is the oldest coin found in Saxony. It is one of only 11 Celtic coins ever found in Saxony, and one of those is lost. Out of the ten remaining, only one of them is gold and it is worn smooth, unlike this one which is in like-new condition.
The coin was discovered in July by metal detectorist Daniel Fest. He is certified by the Saxon State Office for Archaeology (LfA) to scan for archaeological materials which he turns over to cultural heritage authorities when he finds any. It was examined by State Archaeologist Dr. Regina Smolnik who identified it a gold quarter stater originating in the Celtic settlement area of Bohemia.
It is half the diameter of a penny and weighing just two grams. Also known as a rainbow cup coin, the quarter stater is domed and legend has it that these coins fell out of the sky at the end of a rainbow. It is incredibly pure, composed of 99% gold, and in near-mint condition. It dates to the 3rd century B.C.
The obverse depicts a stylized head of an animal facing forward with eyes on each side of a long nose, horns and a large forehead bump. The reverse of the coin has an open circle shape with widened ends: a torc with trumpet terminals. Inside the torc is a five-pointed star with rounded points, and a sphere at the bottom center of the star above the torc terminals. Torcs were powerful protective amulets and symbols of aristocracy in Celtic society. They were used as an artistic motif as well, and appear on five denominations of gold and silver coins minted in Bohemia starting in the late 3rd century B.C.
Gold quarter staters are very rare, only minted in the early phase of Celtic coin production in northern Bohemia. They were soon replaced by 1/3 staters, fed by the trade in high-value Baltic amber. Only a handful of examples of the few documented types of Bohemian gold quarter staters are known to exist.
State archaeologist Regina Smolnik: “Celtic coins are a rarity in Saxony. Although Saxony lies outside the Celtic settlement area, this valuable new find is further evidence that there were regular contacts and connections. While we refer to the object as a ‘coin,’ it can be assumed that this almost mint-fresh new find was hardly in circulation in the sense of a coin economy. Rather, it was likely a status symbol or a store of value for an upper class with trade relations with the Celts.”
The coin will be transferred to the LfA Museum in Chemnitz and will be put on public display.
That “stylized animal head”, clearly, is a mustached chieftain with his ‘leaf-crown’, like e.g. the ‘Glauberg chieftain, the one depicted the ‘Pfalzfeld obelisk’ or on the Waldalgesheim flagon.
In addition to the ones with their ‘leaf-crowns’, there also are the ones with ‘pointy hats’, like e.g. the ‘Hochdorf Chieftain’, and likewise corresponding statues.
The Hallstatt period, with e.g. Pyrene/ Heuneburg, with horse breeding, tin and amber trade, was in the 4th century BC replaced by a ‘La Tène’ warrior culture.
Rome was sacked in 390BC by a ‘Brennus’, and in e.g. Anatolia they stayed as Galatians. Another ‘Brennus’ -i.e. apparently some sort of title- died in 279 BC at Delphi.
The Tectosages, for example, had been part of the confederation of the Volcae, and at least according to Caesar, they inhabited the Hercynian Forest, of which a part lies in Bohemia.
The ‘star taler’ is German folklore, and in the heartlands, those ‘rainbow cups’ had been found rather regularly.
Kilroy was here
I can see the resemblance to the Glauberg chieftain, but if you turn the coin upside down, the “face” becomes a boar. The lump on the forehead is the snout. And the ‘nose’ becomes the classic raised hairs down the boar’s back. The mouth has tusks, and the boar now has eyebrows. The design was probably created to have dual images. Like a visual riddle.
Cari, in case you read ‘Asterix in Corsica’, were several clan chieftains that had gone into hiding in maquis shrubland were communicating to each other making “wild boar noises”:
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“What!? – You are unable to differ a Chieftain from a wild boar?!?” 🤣️
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Those ‘leaf crowns’ –remnants of a leathery real one were indeed found in the Glauberg tumulus– were actually quite common, even in Gaul. There is e.g. the ‘Coligny Calendar’, a lunisolar calendar with 5 lunar years, 5*12 lunar months, divided into two 2.5 year periods, with two additional leap months.
Of course, the lunar year had to be brought in accordance with what the sun is doing, to pinpoint the summer and winter solstice, on the latter we celebrate Christmas, there is Easter Sunday, spring equinox or the Sunday after the first full moon, and its counterpart in autumn (‘Halloween’, anyone?).
In addition to the 19 year Metonic cycle, they also counted a ‘generation’ or 30 year period, or according to Pliny (16.95):
“…on the 6th day of the lunar month, also marking their months and years, and after 30 years their ages, as by then the moon already has complete power even before the middle of the lunar month is reached. In their language they call it the all-healer. …”