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Still looking as sharp as the
day it was minted two-thousand
years ago, this is
unquestionably one of the
prettiest Anted Triple Moons
gold staters we have seen. The
obverse design is both intricate
and intriguing; nothing like it
had been engraved before and it
was also used for both Ecen and
Ece staters. When looked at this
way up, the three crescent moons
can be seen as a hidden face – a
rather sad hidden face with
upturned eyes and downturned
mouth. Sir John Evans was of the
opinion that the Icenian Anted
was the same person as the
Dobunnic Anted and says:
“Professor Rhys [Celtic
Britain, p.37] has suggested
that owing to some revolution
among the Iceni, the kingly
power was abrogated and that the
state became the prey of two
factions headed by Bericos and
Antedrigus respectively; that
Antedrigus prevailed and issued
coins bearing his name, while
Bericos fled to Claudius to ask
him to invade the island,
promising the aid of his
friends; that when the Roman
forces arrived the Iceni were
induced to enter into an
alliance with the Roman power,
and Antedrigus had to flee; that
he was then hospitably received
by the Dobunni, among whom he
organized resistance to the
Romans for some years
afterwards” (Coins of the
Ancient Britons, Supplement,
1890, p.493). Today it is
generally thought that the Anted
in East Anglia was not the same
king as the Anted in the
Cotswolds. Dr Philip de Jersey
says: “The Anted staters all
appear to be from the same
reverse die, which might suggest
that this was really a very
scarce issue.” Chris Rudd
November catalogue.
12.10.09 |
