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Bronze Unit 'Cantian E'
| Issuer | Cantii tribe |
|---|---|
| Year | 50 BC - 35 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 1.3 g |
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| Obverse description | Highly abstracted Celticised rendering of an Apollo head, depicted facing left or right depending on the die, reduced to a series of concentric curved lines and geometric elements characteristic of Late Iron Age Celtic coinage. A prominent central pellet occupies the approximate position of the eye or facial centre, serving as the focal point of the composition. The surrounding field is filled with flowing curvilinear forms derived from classical prototypes but thoroughly transformed into the native Celtic artistic idiom. No inscription or legend is present. The flan is irregular and the relief casting is bold. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
The Cantii occupied what is now Kent — the first part of Britain Julius Caesar encountered during his expeditions of 55 and 54 BC. Caesar's own accounts name several Cantian leaders, including Cingetorix and Catuvolcus, suggesting a relatively sophisticated political structure for the period. These small cast bronzes were produced in the decades immediately following that Roman contact, and some scholars argue the irregular fabric reflects a tradition of casting rather than striking that predates any Continental influence on British coinage.
ABC 174 is among the more variable types in the series — die alignment and flan preparation differ considerably across specimens.