statère des Parisii de la classe II.

Anonyme

    • 1er siècle av. J.-C.
    • Numismatique
    • Monnaie
    • Achat
    • NM4

Around the mid-3rd century B.C., the Parisii Gauls settled in a territory that now corresponds to part of Ile de France. Several gold coins minted by this tribe have been found in the Seine at Paris. Lutetia, their capital, which was mentioned by Julius Caesar, was built on an island in the Seine. This strategic position enabled them to control river trade and mint gold coins of very high quality. Inspired by the staters of Philip II of Macedonia, this very stylized example shows the originality of Gallic engravers. On the obverse side, a man’s head is seen in profile, with strands of hair ending in curls; on the reverse side, a horse rearing toward the left is topped by a veil with balls. The artistic quality of this coinage makes it one of the most original examples of Celtic coin-making.