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Gold 1/4 Stater Dorchester Y-Type
| Issuer | Durotriges tribe (Celtic Britain) |
|---|---|
| Year | 60 BC - 30 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Uninscribed, entirely plain convex hemisphere occupying the full flan, exhibiting a characteristic domed bowl form typical of late Durotrigan quarter staters. The surface is devoid of any figural or geometric design, presenting a smooth, polished field contained within a narrow, slightly irregular raised rim. The pronounced convexity reflects the natural distortion arising from the hammered striking process on a small, thick flan. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse displays a bold, deeply incuse Y-shaped geometric device formed by three radiating lines meeting at a central point, dividing the circular flan into three unequal segments. A prominent vertical bar descends from the upper field, intersected near the centre by two diverging diagonal bars extending toward the lower left and lower right, creating a characteristic forked or Y-shaped angular composition. The design is enclosed within a well-defined raised circular rim. The entire motif is rendered in a highly schematised, abstract Celtic style, entirely devoid of inscriptions or additional ornament. |
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| Additional information |
The Durotriges occupied a territory roughly corresponding to modern Dorset and Somerset, and their coinage tells a story of deliberate economic contraction. Beginning with recognizable Gallo-Belgic prototypes, their gold staters progressively debased over generations — first into billon, then bronze — as Roman commercial pressure and the disruption of cross-Channel trade networks eroded access to bullion. The quarter stater sits near the earlier end of this devolution, retaining gold content that later Durotrigan issues abandoned entirely.
The Y-type classification within the ABC corpus reflects distinct die groupings identified through find distributions concentrated around Maiden Castle and the Dorchester hinterland.