fullscreen - MNAHA Collections

Metadata

Measurements:: Average weight of a stater : 5,4 g; Average diameter of a stater : 16,5 mm

Description:: This exceptional hoard consists of 32 gold coins bearing the legend POTTINA. It is the largest set of Gallic gold staters discovered on Luxembourg territory to date. These coins were probably buried in the context of the troubles surrounding the conquest of Gaul by Caesar’s Roman legions. Between 58 and 51 BC, more and more gold and silver coins were being struck to increase money supply in order to meet war needs, for instance soldiers’ pay or tribute-money for allies. In Gaul, the production of so-called “eye” staters minted from electrum (a natural alloy of gold, silver and copper) increased significantly. The “eye” coins are characterized by the extreme stylization of their iconography. In this case, the profile of the Greek god Apollo on the obverse, inspired by the coins of Philip of Macedon, is simplified to the extreme in the symbolic representation of a large angular eye turned to the right. The iris appears as an eight-spoked wheel, probably a Gallic symbol of the sun. The reverse of the coin shows a rearing horse, perhaps modelled on a Roman denarius. The legend “POTTINA” might refer to the name of an unknown Treveran chieftain.

These 32 coins were found around 1970-1980 near Altrier in eastern Luxembourg. The hoard was acquired by the Museum in 2009 and 2010.