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This is an Eye V-Type gold
stater of Gallia Belgica and it
is a most extraordinary coin. We’ve
followed Louis-Pol Delestrée in
giving this extraordinary gold
stater to the Remi; it has
traditionally been attributed to
the Treviri. One could speculate
endlessly and most enjoyably
about the symbolism of this
type. Here’s a titillating
titbit from an imaginative
French master of Gallic imagery,
translated for us by Dr Philip
de Jersey:
BN
8799 p.51. |
Fig. 57, p.94 |
"Celtic
iconography does not lack for
images of an extraordinary
audacity, such as fig. 22,
representing the eye of God, the
oculus mundi viewed in
profile; as such, a classical
theme. But here the upper eyelid
should be viewed as virile, and
from it the sinuous emanation –
passing through a star (or
radiant seed) – reaches the
pupil, to be conceived of as a
womb; there is here as much
original thinking on the
fertilising, divine regard as
there is a saucy humour which
far surpasses the classical
restraint."
(f.
22) "An
ideogram of the eye of the
divine creator. The eyebrow is
represented by five balls. The
upper eyelid is a virile motif
from which a sinuous line
emanates, the implication
seminal, ejecting a radiant
seed, then continuing its path
to touch the pupil, a receptacle
(the womb) enclosing the egg.
The female character of its
opening is emphasized by its
almond shape." (Lancelot Lengyel,
le secret des celtes,
1969). We've never had one of
these Eye V-Type gold staters
before. Chris Rudd July list.
17.5.10
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