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In our March
catalogue (Chris
Rudd List 98, no.8)
we featured a
Gallo-Belgic Broad
Flan gold stater,
probably struck by
the Bellovaci, in
the region of
Beauvais, northern
France, sometime
around 175-120 BC.
We now have a much
prettier specimen
which you will be
able to buy in seven
weeks time (we
thought we'd give
you plenty of
advance notice so
that you can put
some money aside for
it). In 2003 Dr
Philip de Jersey
said: "The British
Museum has a coin
from the same dies,
analysed in 1987 and
shown to contain 72%
gold, 24% silver and
4% copper. The
obverse die is
relatively common,
used for at least
sixteen other coins,
but only this
specimen and the
British Museum coin
share this reverse
die." Which means
this Gallo-Belgic
Broad Flan stater
has an excessively
rare die pairing.
But is has more than
great scarcity to
commend it. As you
can see, it is also
a very lovely coin
with a generous
portrayal of the
Apollo bust (the
advantage of a large
flan) with the face
just squeezing onto
the flan (often
cruelly cropped) and
with a well
delineated horse and
charioteer.
Moreover, if that is
not enough to make
your mouth
water, this gorgeous
golden gold stater
boasts a
distinguished
pedigree of former
owners: ex Larry
Baker collection, ex
Mark King
collection, ex
Greenall collection
1973, ex Spink July
1966. Yes, we know
where it's been for
the past 42 years.
Who will be the next
fortunate owner of
the delectable gold
stater? Chris Rudd
May list.
17.3.08 |
