Isn't it marvellous when an inscription becomes part of the overall design of a coin and the two elements - image and legend - combine to form a wholly satisfying piece of art? It doesn't happen often, but when it does then we feel doubly pleased. Yes, it's happening today with this splendid gold stater of the Corieltavi. It’s more than four years since we’ve had a gold stater of Dumnocoveros Tigirseno. This one is a real beauty. The obverse design is satisfyingly symmetrical with the vertical stack of brick-like wreath leaves going straight down the middle, neatly dividing DVMN (which we assume to be short for Dumnocoveros) and forming an impactful cruciform motif with a circular motif in each of the four angles. It’s worth noting that two of the rings contain a triquetra. Looking at this carefully crafted, well balanced design we are inevitably reminded of Cunobelin’s biga type staters which must surely have provided the inspiration for this north-eastern stater. The reverse is no less attractive, chiefly because it beautifully displays the front part of the horse and because the inscription – like the DVMN on the other side – becomes an integral part of the overall design, rather than appendage. The TIGIR part of the name is dramatically revealed in its entirety, with every detail of every letter clearly shown. This sensational gold stater was unearthed on Friday, 20 November 2009, in North Yorkshire, confirming that Tigirseno ruled in the northern part of Corieltavia, not the south. Chris Rudd September list.                                                               16.8.10