Lot 4027
Celtic Coinage. Northwestern Gaul. The Redones. Gold Stater (8.04 g, 20 mm). 2nd century B.C. Large laureate head of Apollo right. Reverse: Naked rider on horseback right, holding a shield in left hand and a spear in right hand, grain ear before, lightning bolt below. DT 2082-2084. BN 6757. Hucher "l'Art gaulois" pl. 53. Very Fine. Extremely rare.
The rider on the reverse sometimes has been identified as Epona, the Celtic horse-goddess. As a protectress of horses, a fertility deity and leader of souls into the afterlife, she is normally depicted in a less militaristic manner in other Celtic art, leading one to question the identification. The person on horseback here may very will be female, the woman warrior being a popular theme of Celtic legend.
Estimated Value $25,000-UP.
Ex Vinchon, 20 December 2006, lot 356; Collection Numismatique d'un amateur d'art (Vinchon, 29 October 2002), lot 34.
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| Realized $15,525 |
