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Obol Svicca Type
| Issuer | Kingdom of Noricum |
|---|---|
| Year | 100 BC - 1 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Obol (⅙) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A Winckelkreuz (swastika-derived Celtic cross) motif formed by four radiating arms, each terminating in a slightly splayed or forked end, dividing the field into four quadrants. A prominent central pellet occupies the intersection of the cross arms. Additional pellets are placed at the terminus of each arm, lending the design a dynamic rotational symmetry characteristic of Noric Celtic coinage. The field is otherwise plain, with no legend or inscription. |
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| Mintage | ND (100 BC - 1 BC) |
| Additional information |
Noricum, the Celtic kingdom straddling the eastern Alps, maintained a sophisticated silver coinage tradition that predated Roman annexation in 15 BC by well over a century. The Svicca type obols represent the fractional end of that system — small-denomination pieces likely used in local market transactions rather than tribal tribute or prestige exchange. Roman commercial penetration of the region, accelerating through the first century BC, may partly explain the prolonged minting span these types share.
Kostial's classification of this type draws on the substantial hoard evidence recovered from the Magdalensberg, Noricum's principal urban center and a documented hub of Roman-Celtic trade before formal annexation.