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It's not just a
Middle Whaddon Chase
stater. It's a Pole
Wheel Type in
extremely fine nick.
There are only seven
others recorded
and this one is
unquestionably the
nicest known. Rainer
Kretz says:
“This is a
beautifully
ornamented and
exceedingly rare
adaptation of the
Middle Whaddon Chase
stater (VA 1487),
with the crossed
wreath design of the
obverse clearly
betraying its
origins. However, of
the original motifs
in the four
quadrants only the
remains of Apollo’s
cloak have survived
(top right segment).
The other three
quadrants now show a
humpback motif above
a ringed pellet, a
feature also found
on a rare variety of
the Wonersh stater
(see CR list 101,
no.16).
Interestingly, the
reverse shows the
same bucranium or
perhaps more
correctly ‘bull’s
horns’ feature also
found on the most
probably Kentish
‘DIRAS’ stater (VA
162), but this time
upside down. Another
closely related
motive occurs on the
Kentish ‘Ornamented
type’ (VA 142).
Around the horse are
a bewildering number
of ornaments filling
every available
space, but perhaps
the most striking
feature of this coin
is the spiked wheel
– if that’s what it
is – either emerging
from, or piercing
the horse’s back. A
similar motif can be
found on some
quarter staters of
the Atrebates,
silver units of the
Corieltauvi as well
as some Gaulish
issues, either in a
similar position or
piercing the front
of the horse but
apparently always in
direct contact with
the animal. What
exactly this popular
symbolism was
intended to convey
is open to question
and whilst we may
come up with some
suitably mythical
interpretations, it
is unlikely we shall
ever know for sure.
Of the five
provenanced coins,
all were found north
of the Thames but
spread across
several tribal
regions. Only one
region (Essex) is
represented by two
coins, which may
point towards a
Trinovantian origin
for this series.
Like some other
minor North Thames
stater issues of
that period, this
type was most
probably struck by a
minor dynast in
control of a
relatively small
territory or ‘pagus’
within the overall
tribal area.
Altogether a truly
remarkable
specimen.”
Chris Rudd's
November list.
20.10.08 |
