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This
Gisleham Glory gold quarter
stater, struck by an unknown
ruler of the Iceni c.40-20 BC,
is easily the most glorious we
have ever seen. It is well
centred (all the more important
with a symmetrical design) and
boldly hammered, with every part
of the image standing out in
high relief on both sides of the
coin. Moreover the Gisleham
Glory is still a gloriously rare
type, with only eight other
examples recorded. Now here's an
interesting fact which is well
illustrated by the Gisleham
Glory:
The dominant difference between
British and Gaulish coin
designs, especially post-Gallic
War, is that British coins carry
a much higher proportion of
abstract, geometric patterns. We
don’t know why, but maybe it was
because British druids – masters
of esoteric symbolism – still
exerted considerable influence
over coin motifs. The symbolism
on this gold quarter stater
seems to be about four – four
double, four crucified. We see
two crosses with their eight
arms radiating from a four-spoked
sun-wheel. The four arms which
end in a ringed-pellet sun may
represent the four seasons. The
tap-shaped arms may signify the
two solstices and two equinoxes.
Or the four festivals. Or the
four directions. Or the four
winds. Or the four phases of the
moon. Or the four elements:
earth, water, fire and air. Who
knows? Maybe we should ask Dr
Daphne Nash Briggs. To be sold by phone
bid,
Chris Rudd
March catalogue.
18.1.10 |
