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Gold Stater Late Whaddon Chase Big Pellet Type
| Issuer | Trinovantes tribe (Celtic Britain) |
|---|---|
| Year | 45 BC - 40 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | 5.6 g |
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| Obverse description | Blank, deeply convex surface exhibiting the characteristic dump-flan construction typical of Late Iron Age Celtic coinage. The obverse is devoid of any discernible design elements, presenting a plain, unmarked gold surface with natural flow lines and surface striations consistent with the hammering process. This uninscribed, anepigraphic face is a defining feature of the Whaddon Chase series, reflecting the abstract evolution away from the original Macedonian wreathed head prototype. The irregular, scalloped flan edge is characteristic of hand-cut planchet preparation. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A stylised Celtic horse prancing to the right, rendered in bold relief in the characteristic abstract La Tène artistic tradition. Above the horse, a prominent large pellet — the diagnostic 'big pellet' element that defines this subtype — is flanked by a sunburst or rayed motif and curvilinear appendages. Below the horse's body, a large central annulet or ring is visible, surrounded by scattered pellets and linear ornaments filling the field. To the right of the horse, a vertical tablet-like element and additional pellets complete the composition, while the border is formed by a beaded or rope-pattern cordon encircling the entire design. |
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| Additional information |
The Whaddon Chase types take their name from a hoard found in Buckinghamshire in 1849, which contained several hundred gold staters and became the defining reference group for this coinage. The "Big Pellet" designation distinguishes this die variant by the oversized pellet element, a detail that has allowed specialists to sequence production runs within what was clearly a high-output mint operating in the decades before Caesar's campaigns fundamentally disrupted Trinovantian political arrangements.
The Trinovantes were unusual among southeastern British tribes in their early accommodation with Rome — they sought Caesar's protection against the Catuvellauni as far back as 54 BC. This stater was struck well after that contact.