It always pays to look closely at ancient British coins, because then you can discover significant details which you might otherwise have missed - details which can add to the interest, the rarity and the value of the coin. This beautiful Tasciovanos Warrior gold stater is an excellent example of what we mean. Concealed within the obverse design are the letters VER (the E is obscured in this instance, so you wouldn't see it anyway) which stand for Verlamion, the tribal centre of the Catuvellauni and the seat of the kingdom of Tasciovanos. Only two dies contained the letters VER so, not surprisingly, this is an extremely rare stater. Like the one we sold three weeks ago, this superb specimen also reveals the iron age war trumpet held aloft by the horseman. Chris Rudd November list.                                                                                                            24.9.07