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Here is a remarkable
rarity which is
known as the Ratham
Wreath, named after
a place near
Chichester,
West Sussex. This
unusual gold quarter
stater has a
cruciform motif of a
wreath and double
beaded lines with a
central
ringed-pellet in a
beaded ring, with
'bear's paws' in the
angles above and
crescents in the
angles below which
form a partially
hidden face. The
horse is odd too. It
has a head like a
pair of scissors and
its beaded mane
curls back up and
connects with a
flower-like
sun-symbol - an
interesting piece of
solar/equine
iconography which
clearly indicates
that the engraver
(and presumably king
who commissioned the
dies) saw a link
between the horse
and the sun. The
Ratham Wreath is an
excessively rare
type (only two
others recorded) and
this is the finest
known example.
Chris Rudd May list. 21.4.08 |
