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Silver Unit Crossed Wreaths
| Issuer | Cantii tribe (Celtic Britain) |
|---|---|
| Year | 50 BC - 25 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Crossed wreaths or bow-tie motif occupying the central field, rendered in the abstract Celtic idiom characteristic of Late Iron Age British coinage. The design is divided by a prominent vertical band of pellets and parallel lines descending from the central motif, with additional pellets and linear elements radiating into the surrounding field. Scattered pellets and short linear marks fill the quarters around the central device, imparting a dynamic, schematised composition. The flan is irregular and slightly convex, consistent with hammered Celtic silver unit production. No legend or inscription is present. |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | A stylised horse depicted in profile, facing left, rendered in the abstracted Celtic artistic tradition with sinuous body and curvilinear limbs. The horse is surrounded by a border of large curvilinear elements and pellets, possibly representing a degraded wreath or decorative torc-like frame encircling the field. Additional pellets and annulets are scattered throughout the field, typical of Cantian silver unit iconography. The overall composition reflects the highly stylised, non-naturalistic approach to animal depiction characteristic of Late Iron Age British coinage. No legend or inscription appears on this die. |
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| Additional information |
The Cantii occupied the southeast corner of Britain — roughly modern Kent — and were among the tribes Caesar encountered during his expeditions of 55 and 54 BC. These small silver units were almost certainly circulating during and immediately after that contact, placing them at the precise moment when Gaulish monetary conventions were being absorbed and adapted by British tribal moneyers with increasing sophistication. Whether Caesar's campaigns disrupted or accelerated local coin production remains an open question among specialists.
ABC 246 is among the more frequently referenced Cantian types, appearing in several significant Kent hoards.