Catalog
Æ in the name of Lucius Munatius Plancus
| Issuer | Ruteni |
|---|---|
| Year | 43 BC - 27 BC |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Stylized head facing right, rendered in the schematic Gallo-Celtic artistic tradition with pronounced pellet ornamentation and geometric detailing. The hair is depicted as a radiating spray of incised lines curving back from the brow, with beaded strands framing the face. A lozenge-shaped motif is visible at the cheek or neck area, characteristic of the Ruteni workshop's die-cutting style. The partial legend L MVNATI X surrounds the effigy, naming the Roman magistrate Lucius Munatius Plancus. The overall relief is bold and somewhat abstract, reflecting the local Celtic interpretation of Hellenistic portraiture. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A bird, likely an eagle or corvid, depicted in a stylized Gallo-Celtic manner, facing left with wings partially spread and rendered with incised feather detail. A palm branch or leafy spray appears to the left of the bird, a common symbol of victory or authority on late Gaulish bronze coinage. The surrounding field bears the partial legend ATTALVS S, referencing the local Ruteni magistrate or moneyer Attalus. The composition is vigorous and spontaneous, with the design elements arranged in dynamic relief typical of the late La Tène numismatic tradition. The flan edges are irregular, consistent with hand-hammered production. |
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| Additional information |
Lucius Munatius Plancus is a figure whose name appearing on Gallic bronze coinage remains one of the more puzzling episodes in late Republican numismatics. He served as governor of Gallia Comata beginning in 43 BC — the same year he founded the colony of Lugdunum — and his name on issues of the Ruteni has been interpreted as evidence of Roman administrative authority being projected through indigenous minting, rather than direct Roman production. Whether this reflects a formal arrangement or opportunistic association is still debated.