Drachm with triangular head

Đơn vị phát hành Cadurci
Năm 100 BC - 40 BC
Loại Standard circulation coin
Mệnh giá 1 Drachm
Tiền tệ
Chất liệu Silver
Trọng lượng 2.51 g
Đường kính 15 mm
Độ dày
Hình dạng Round (irregular)
Kỹ thuật Hammered
Hướng Variable alignment ↺
Nghệ nhân khắc
Lưu hành đến
Tài liệu tham khảo LT#3258
Mô tả mặt trước Triangular head left; the nose represented by a triangle, with a circled point as an eye; the whole in an entourage of sticks and arcs of balled and linked circles; a pearl necklace at the base of the neck and a flower in front of the face.
Chữ viết mặt trước
Chữ khắc mặt trước
Mô tả mặt sau Cross formed of four angles: a pellet in the 1st, 2nd and 4th ones and a large hollowed-out ax in the 3rd.
Chữ viết mặt sau
Chữ khắc mặt sau
Cạnh
Xưởng đúc
Số lượng đúc ND (100 BC - 40 BC) - -
ID Numisquare 3260994500
Thông tin bổ sung

Historical Context: This silver drachm, featuring the distinctive "triangular head," was issued by the Cadurci, a significant Gallic tribe inhabiting the region of modern-day Quercy in southwestern France. Struck between 100 BC and 40 BC, this coin belongs to a critical period in Gallic history, marked by the increasing influence and eventual conquest by the Roman Republic under Julius Caesar. The Cadurci were part of the powerful Arvernian confederacy and played a role in the Gallic resistance. Such coinage served not only as a medium of exchange in local and inter-tribal commerce but also as a potent symbol of tribal identity and sovereignty during a time of profound political upheaval.

Artistry: The engraver of this piece, like most Celtic numismatic artists, remains anonymous. However, the coin exemplifies the unique stylistic school of Gallic Celtic art, characterized by its highly abstract and geometric interpretation of classical prototypes. The obverse presents the eponymous "triangular head," a remarkably stylized human profile, possibly a deity or ancestral figure, reduced to its most essential, angular forms. This extreme abstraction transforms the human visage into a powerful, almost totemic symbol. The reverse typically features a highly stylized horse, often with a rider or various symbolic elements, reflecting deep-seated Celtic animalistic motifs and martial traditions.

Technical/Grading: This drachm, weighing 2.51 grams and measuring 15 millimeters, adheres to a common standard for Cadurcan silver issues. For optimal grading, key high-points on the obverse would include the apex and defining edges of the "triangular head," as well as any discernible facial elements. On the reverse, the horse's head, mane, and leg articulation are crucial. Technical strike qualities for Gallic coinage can vary; well-struck examples will exhibit a clear, centered impression of both the stylized head and the horse, with minimal planchet irregularities or die wear, which are common given the less refined minting processes of the era.

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