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The
Selsey Diadem is one of the most
interesting gold quarter staters
struck in Britain. Although it
was issued by the Regini of West
Sussex - probably minted at or
near Chichester - it was copied
by the Iceni in East Anglia who
used the female head as a model
for their first silver coin, the
Bury Diadem. The Selsey Diadem
is also one of the most elusive
gold quarters and it seems that
we are the only people to get
hold of the few that aren't in
the British Museum. (The above
engravings show three in the
BM). Of the eight Selsey Diadem
gold quarter staters recorded,
this is the only one which
clearly shows two reversed-S
motifs in front of the face.
There also seems to be a small
animal’s head (or is it a
snake’s head?) attached to the
front of the diadem and hanging
down before the forehead. It is
unclear what type of animal is
immediately above the horse.
This is only the third Selsey
Diadem that we’ve had. The other
five were all found at East Wittering, West Sussex, around
1873, and are in the British
Museum. This is a much rarer
coin than most collectors
imagine. Chris Rudd
January catalogue. 14.12.09 |
