If you are familiar with the coins of the Eceni, you will think 'where have I seen that face before?' The answer is that you saw it on two very rare silver coins, BMC 3554 and 3555, but facing right and with a mop of curly hair, rather than the big, brushed-back locks you see on this head. Did the Ecenian die cutter copy the Catuvellaunian die cutter? Or was it the other way round? Or were they one and the same engraver? I think the last answer might be the correct one. Die cutting was a highly specialised craft and it seems entirely possible that engravers could have been itinerant metalworkers, plying their specialist skills from ruler to ruler, from tribe to tribe, or in this instance, within the broader confines of the East Midlands. The way the lettering has been woven into the overall design is very clever and typical of British celators of this period. This superb and very rare Naked Warrior silver unit of Tasciovanos will be offered for sale in Chris Rudd's November list.                   3.10.05