Here's an interesting gold stater. At first sight it looks like a common-or-garden left-facing Norfolk Wolf. But it isn't. If you examine it closely and then check the Celtic Coin Index, you'll discover that it is the only known specimen struck from this pair of dies and, as such, is of the highest rarity. John Talbot, the Ecenian coin specialist, says: "On the lower left of the obverse is shown an excellent example of the fibula like design." This is an astragalus, the bone of the ankle that articulates with the tibia and fibula to form the ankle joint (from the Greek astragalos 'vertebra'). For the ancient Greeks and Romans, the ankle was where the wings of deities such as Hermes (Mercury) were attached; its significance was thus symbolic of heightened consciousness. The astragalus bone of this Norfolk Wolf gold stater may have held a similar meaning for the Eceni. Probably a sacred Druidic symbol. It's amazing what you find on ancient British coins when you study them carefully. Chris Rudd September list.                                                                           11.9.06