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Obol Magdalensberg Type
| Issuer | Kingdom of Noricum |
|---|---|
| Year | 200 BC - 1 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Highly stylized and abstracted Celtic rendering of a head or helmet, depicted in low relief with a smooth, convex central boss dominating the field. The design is characteristic of late Celtic coinage from the eastern Alpine region, reduced to near-geometric forms with minimal detail. The surface shows the irregular flan typical of hand-struck hammered coinage of this period. No legend or inscription is present. |
|---|---|
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| Edge | Irregular |
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| Additional information |
The Magdalensberg obols are among the earliest Celtic silver coinages of the Eastern Alps, produced by the Norican tribes whose kingdom was unusual in its degree of urbanization and commercial sophistication relative to neighboring Celtic polities. The oppidum at Magdalensberg functioned as a major trading hub connecting the Mediterranean world with the interior, and these small silver pieces were almost certainly struck to facilitate that commerce — particularly the iron trade for which Noricum was famous across the ancient world.
Noricum entered Rome's orbit peacefully around 15 BC, becoming a client kingdom before formal provincial annexation, which means these coins circulated through a prolonged transitional period straddling full Celtic independence and Roman absorption.