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'Life-Like Bull' Potin Unit 'Cantian A'
| Issuer | Cantii tribe |
|---|---|
| Year | 100 BC - 85 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Stater |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Crude but recognisable bust of Apollo facing left, rendered in the schematic Celtic tradition derived from Massalian prototypes. The head is encircled by a broad cable or rope border typical of cast potin coinage, with stylised hair indicated by a series of parallel engraved lines radiating from the crown. The facial features — a prominent brow, simplified nose and open lips — are rendered in low relief consistent with the cast technique. The surrounding field is plain and slightly uneven, characteristic of the irregular flan produced by casting. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | A bull charging to the right, depicted in a naturalistic yet stylised manner that gives this type its 'Life-Like Bull' designation within the ABC classification. The animal is shown with muscular haunches, a rounded body, and a clearly delineated head with horns; a small figure or exergual element appears beneath the bull, consistent with published examples of ABC 144. The field surrounding the bull is plain, and the overall composition occupies most of the reverse flan. The casting seam and flan irregularities are visible at the periphery, as expected for this production method. |
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| Additional information |
The Cantii occupied the southeast corner of Britain — roughly modern Kent — and their potin coinage is among the earliest struck, or more precisely cast, money produced in Britain. Potin, a tin-rich bronze alloy, was the medium of choice for several southeastern tribes in the late Iron Age, likely influenced by Gaulish prototypes circulating across the Channel.
The 'Cantian A' designation separates this earlier, more naturalistic type from later, increasingly abstract issues. Degeneration happened fast; within a few generations the design had degraded beyond recognition.