Andoco seems to have been an associate ruler of the great Tasciovanos, to whom he was almost certainly subordinate, as evidenced by the Tasciovanos Rigon gold staters. This Andoco gold stater is a most interesting specimen because it reveals some exergual decoration which we haven't seen before, possibly a looped serpent? The obverse conceals some clear 'spirit faces'. The reverse displays the full horse in all its galloping glory, with a phallic mane and a phallic bucranium above it, plus a complete inscription. Rainer Kretz, the expert on North Thames dynastic coinage, says: "This is only the second Andoco gold stater to be offered in a Chris Rudd list in the last ten years and according to the CCI there are only twelve other Andoco staters in private hands. In a series where suspected fakes abound (seven have been recorded so far), this is a rare opportunity to acquire a genuine example". Chris Rudd November list.                                                                                 25.9.06