Numismatics

Coin types with Celtic legends in a North Italic alphabet

The 20 known coin types with legend which associate them with Cisalpine Celtic literacy belong to three different groups.

A. Silver drachmae based on a Massaliote model with primary distribution in the Padan plain

Literature: Mommsen 1853: 252 f., Blanchet 1905: 241–244, Whatmough 1933: 121–135 (I), Pautasso 1966: 5–123, Lejeune 1971: 124–128 (group A).

Legends:

• NM·1 aeso
• NM·2 anarekartoṣ
• NM·3 ka / ieikr
• NM·4 pirakos
• NM·5 rikoi
• NM·6 seχeθu
• NM·7 toutiopouos

Whatmough lists the respective legends under the header "The Leponti and their neighbours"; Lejeune 1971: 126 stresses that the legends of group A may possibly, but are not certainly linguistically Lepontic.

B. Gold staters with primary distribution in the Valle d'Aosta and the Valais

Literature: Mommsen 1853: 250–252, Blanchet 1905: ???, Whatmough 1933: 121–129, 135–140 (II), Pautasso 1966: 137–153, Lejeune 1971: 124, 128–130 (group B), Wiblé 2000, Geiser et al. 2012: 78–90.

Legends:

• NM·9 ana / tikou
• NM·10 aśeś
• NM·11 kasiloi
• NM·12 kat
• NM·13 prikou
• NM·14 ulkos

The gold coins of the Aosta/Valais region have an average weight of ca. 7 g, are slightly concave, and feature unusual geometric imagery: on the obverse, a small circle, three parallel lines and variations of a triangular shape/dividing line/grid pattern, on the obverse either an unrecognisable image or a trident shape and peaked line, the latter variant sometimes with a legend in between. The coinage is modelled on the "Raetic" staters of the Vindelici, which are in turn modelled on the Macedonian coinage of Alexander the Great, which has the head of Athena on the obverse, the figure of Nike on the reverse (Forrer 1908: 278, Pautasso 1966: 142–146). Of 21 known pieces, nine bear a legend.

In the earlier literature, the gold coins of the Aosta/Valais region are associated with the Salassi, a view which goes back to Mommsen 1853: 250-252. Mommsen, knowing specimens of NM·10, NM·11, NM·13 and NM·14, argued that the coinage was connected with gold deposits in the valleys of Doria Baltea and Cervo, in regions in which the Salassi are located by classical historiography. Mommsen dated these "Salassian" coins to a phase shortly before 142 BC, in which year the Romans defeated the Salassi and reorganised the gold mining in the area. Observing that there was no gold coined in Massalia and that the then known coins' approximate weight of 6.84 g equalled that of 6 Roman scruples, Mommsen proposed that the "Salassian" coins were modelled on the Roman gold denarius based on 3, 2, and 1 scruples after 217 BC. Mommsen's conclusions were accepted by Longpérier 1861: 333–347 (= Longpérier 1883: 496–507) (already containing all legends known today), Pauli 1885: 75–78, Blanchet 1905: 148, 271 ff. and Whatmough (PID: 124), who dated the coins to the second quarter of the 2^nd c. BC. The ascription of the gold coinage to the Salassi was challenged by Pautasso 1966: 146–152 (also 1972b: 42 f.; cf. already Reber 1900: 163), by whose time the balance of the finds had shifted north of the Great St. Bernard pass and their average weight had increased. Pautasso ascribes the gold coinage to the inhabitants of the upper Rhône valley, whom he identifies as the Uberi. Forrer 1908: 278 dates the gold coinage of group B to the 1^st c. BC on the basis of Celtic comparanda. See also Marinetti & Prosdocimi 1994: 44 f. and Wiblé 2000: 235 f.

Whatmough ((PID: 139) and Pautasso 1966: 145 agree on the rough internal chronology of the coins based on design and weight, the anepigraphic types being the oldest ones, followed by the types with sinistroverse legends NM·9 and NM·12 and the ones with dextroverse legends NM·13, NM·11, with the "very debased" (Whatmough) NM·10 and NM·14 being the latest types.

C. Silver drachmae with primary distribution in the French Rhône valley

Literature: Whatmough 1933: 121–129, 141–146 (III), Lejeune 1971: 124, 130 f. (group C), Geiser et al. 2012: 101–108.

Legends:

• NM·15 .a.lkouesi
• NM·16 iazus
• NM·17 kasios

The series of coin types with legends .a.lkouesi, kasios and iazus has a distribution in the lower Rhône valley between Avignon and Lyon, most find places situated on the eastern side. They are attributed either to the Allobroges, on whose land most hoards were found, or to the Cavares, whose land has yielded a number of stray finds (see the maps in Geiser et al. 2012: 109, fig. 46 and 47). Two basic types can be distinguished (see Geiser et al. 2012: 101–104):
Ia. Obverse right-facing head of Apollo with laurel wreath, reverse right-facing horse bust and below the dextroverse legend .a.lkouesi; both motifs abstractified (stylistically Gallicising according to Pautasso). Heavier variant 2.5–2.6 g, lighter variant 2.35–2.4 g.
Ib. Similar to the above, but with dextroverse legend kasios; 2.3–2.4 g.
Ic. As above, but head of Apollo without wreath, and motifs executed in a more figurative style, with legend kasios; 2.3–2.4 g.
Id. As above, but left-facing horse bust and sinistroverse legend kasios.
II. Obverse as above, on the reverse a left-facing galloping horse; also multiple subtypes, but only on the oldest one (2.25–2.35 g) features a dextroverse legend iazus between head and croup.
The internal chronology is under debate: type Ia is taken to be the oldest by Deroc based on metrological considerations, while Pautasso considers type Ic to be the oldest because of the figurative style. Type II is overall younger than type I.

The main prototype appears to be the Romano-Campanian didrachma of the 3^rd c. BC, which provides models for all motifs, though all are also known from other coin types. The coins are most likely modelled on the light Massalian drachma and later the tetrobol, and issued probably between the late 3^rd and the first half of the 2^nd c. BC according to Pautasso and Geiser et al. 2012: 106; see Geiser et al. 2012: 104–106 for a detailed discussion.

Concerning the question why the legends are inscribed in the Lepontic rather than the Greek alphabet, Lejeune 1971: 125 suggests that the Allobroges/Cavares employed minters from Northern Italy. Pautasso 1976: 497, arguing that the legends are stylistically different from Cisalpine legends (see above sub A), instead proposes that a concious choice was made to prefer the Lepontic over the Greek alphabet.

• NM·8 natoris
• NM·18 cnreiu
• NM·19 areuiz?e? / ???
• NM·20 uol

Literature on Celtic coin types and legends

1. General or undifferentiated
   • Mommsen 1853: 231-257
   • Pautasso 1966
   • Lejeune 1971: 124-132
   • Arslan 1994
   • Marinetti & Prosdocimi 1994
   • Piana Agostinetti 2004: 109-111 (incl. map)
   • Pautasso 1984 (Le monete preromane dell'area insubre, p. 61-68; see Morandi 1999: 152, n. 4)
2. Lepontic coins
   • Pautasso 1976
   • Arslan & Carazzetti 2000 (Lep. coins)
   • Arslan 2000 (Lep. coins)
   • Arslan 2001 (Lep. coins)
   • Chiesa 2000 (Lep. coins)
   • Marinetti et al. 2000 (Lep. coins)
   • Brenot 1998 (transalp. Lepontic coins)
   • Castelin 1978 (Celt. coins)
3. Celtic coins from northern Italy and southern Switzerland
   • Crawford 1985
   • Fondazione Pautasso 1988 (collection of preroman coins from northern Italy)
   • Piana Agostinetti 1989-90 (votive coins and torques of the Cisalpine Celts)
   • Arslan 1993 (Cisalp. Celt. coins)
   • Piana Agostinetti 1996 (cisalpine coins of the NW-area)
   • Gorini 2000 (Lep. coins from NE-Italy)
   • Pautasso 1975c (Vindelicii-staters from the area of Vercelli)
   • Buora 1994 (Celt. coins from the region Friuli)
   • Morandi 1984 (preroman coin legends from the region Lombardy)
   • Arslan 1990 (Celt. coins in the Po-valley)
   • Chiaravalle 1980 (hoard from Milan)
   • Chiaravalle 1980b (hoard from Legnano)
   • Chiaravalle 1980c (hoard from Borgovercelli)
   • Chiaravalle 1980d (hoard from Verdello)
   • Arslan 1995 (hoard from Rivolta d'Adda)
   • Pautasso 1994 (celtic coins from the region of the Alps)
   • Pautasso 1975 (preroman coins from the area of the Ticino)
4. Padanian coins
   • Pautasso 1970 (Padanian coins)
   • Arslan 1999 (Celt. obols from the Padanian region)
   • Arslan 2000b ("padanian coins", penetration in Roman territory)
   • Ercolani Cocchi 1996 (Padanian drachmae)
   • Pautasso 1982 ("owl"-drachmae from the Padanian region)
   • Morandi 1996 (epigraphical aspects of the Celtic coins from the Padanian region)
   • Arslan 1992 ("padanian coins" from Budapest)
   • Overbeck 2000 ("padanian coins" from Bavaria)
5. Typology
   • Brenot 1996 (cisalp. drachmae)
   • Brenot 2000 (imitations of massalian drachmae)
   • Gorini 1998 (penetration of Greek coins in northern Italy)
   • Saccocci 1994 (Venetic coins)
   • Overbeck 1987 (Celtic coins from Kelheim)
   • Arslan 1996 (typological problems)
   • Fondazione Pautasso 1998 (contact forms of local ant stranger coin types, proceedings)
   • Pautasso 1986 (collection of Pautasso's works, esp. on Celtic coins)

Bibliography

Arslan & Carazzetti 2000	Ermanno Arslan, Riccardo Carazzetti (eds), I Leponti e la moneta. Atti della Giornata di studio "I Leponti e la moneta" in occasione del X anniversario di fondazione del Circolo Numismatico Ticinese (1986–1996) Locarno, 16 novembre 1996 in onore di Franco Chiesa, Locarno: Circolo Numismatico Ticinese 2000.
Arslan 1990	Ermanno A. Arslan, "Le monnayage celtique de la plaine du Pô (IVe-Ier siècle avant J.-C.)", Études Celtiques 27 (1990), 71–97.
Arslan 1992	Ermanno A. Arslan, "Le monete padane preromane a Budapest", Numizmatikai Közlöny 90–91 (1991–1992), 9–33.
Arslan 1993	Ermanno A. Arslan, "La monetazione celtica cisalpina. Un nuovo quadro generale", Sibrium 22 (1992–1993), 179–215.
Arslan 1994	Ermanno A. Arslan, "La documentazione numismatica in Lombardia", in: Giovanni Gorini (ed.), Numismatica e archeologia del celtismo padano. Atti del convegno internazionale, Saint-Vincent 8 - 9 settembre 1989, Aosta: 1994, 73–84.
Arslan 1995	Ermanno A. Arslan, Il Ripostiglio di Rivolta d'Adda. 1975 [= Ripostigli Monetali d'Italia, Documentazione dei Complessi 39], Cremona: Civiche Raccolte Numismatiche 1995.
Arslan 1996	Ermanno A. Arslan, "Problemi di tipologia", in: Nino Lamboglia (Ed.), Atti dell’Incontro di Studio su: La Monetazione Preromana dell’Italia Settentrionale: Approvvigionamento del Metallo, Coniazione, Circolazione. Bordighera, 16 - 17 settembre 1994, Omaggio a Nino Lamboglia, Bordighera: Museo Bicknell 1996, 33–51.
Arslan 1999	Ermanno A. Arslan, "Gli oboli celtici padani di Garlasco", in: Claudia Maccabruni, Elena Calandra, Maria Grazia Diani, Laura Vecchi (eds), Multas per gentes et multa per aequora. Culture antiche in provincia di Pavia: Lomellina, Pavese, Oltrepò. Atti della giornata di studi (Gambolò, 18 maggio 1997), Milano: Ennerre 1999, 69–82.
Arslan 2000	Ermanno A. Arslan, "La monetazione con legende leponzie e la monetazione preromana dell'area leponzia e insubre", in: Raffaele C. De Marinis, Simonetta Biaggio Simona (eds), I leponti tra mito e realtà. Raccolta di saggi in occasione della mostra Locarno, Castello Visconteo - Casorella, 20 maggio - 3 dicembre 2000, Verbania: Armando Dadò Editore 2000, 223-233.
Arslan 2000b	Ermanno A. Arslan, "Celti e Romani. Penetrazione della Moneta Celtica Padana nel Territorio di Roma", in: Ermanno Arslan, Riccardo Carazzetti (eds), I Leponti e la moneta. Atti della Giornata di studio "I Leponti e la moneta" in occasione del X anniversario di fondazione del Circolo Numismatico Ticinese (1986–1996) Locarno, 16 novembre 1996 in onore di Franco Chiesa, Locarno: Circolo Numismatico Ticinese 2000, 47-63.
Arslan 2001	Ermanno Arslan (Ed.), La Moneta nel Territorio dei Leponti fino alla Conquista Augustea, Verbania: Comune di Verbania 2001. CD-ROM
Blanchet 1905	Adrien Blanchet, Traité des monnaies gauloises. Vol. I, Paris: 1905.
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Brenot 1998	Claude Brenot, "A propos des monnaies à légendes lépontiennes de Transalpine", in: Fondazione "Andrea Pautasso" per gli studi di numismatica (ed.), Forme di contatto tra moneta locale e moneta straniera nel mondo antico. Atti del Convegno internazionale, Aosta 13-14 ottobre 1995. A cura di Giovanni Gorini, Padova: Esedra Editrice 1998, 23-37.
Brenot 2000	Claude Brenot, "Imitations lourdes de drachmes massaliètes au Cabinet des Médailles de Marseille", in: Ermanno Arslan, Riccardo Carazzetti (eds), I Leponti e la moneta. Atti della Giornata di studio "I Leponti e la moneta" in occasione del X anniversario di fondazione del Circolo Numismatico Ticinese (1986–1996) Locarno, 16 novembre 1996 in onore di Franco Chiesa, Locarno: Circolo Numismatico Ticinese 2000, 11-21.
Buora 1994	Maurizio Buora, "Le monete celtiche del Friuli: la documentazione archeologica", in: Giovanni Gorini (ed.), Numismatica e archeologia del celtismo padano. Atti del convegno internazionale, Saint-Vincent 8 - 9 settembre 1989, Aosta: 1994, 7-21.
Castelin 1978	Karel Castelin, "Keltische Münzen", in: Schweizerisches Landesmuseum, Katalog der Dauerausstellung, Zürich: Schweizerisches Landesmuseum 1978, ???.
Chiaravalle 1980	Maila Chiaravalle, Milano, Piazza Fontana 1936 [= Ripostigli Monetali d'Italia, Schede Anagrafiche 1], Milano: Civiche Raccolte Numismatiche 1980.
Chiaravalle 1980b	Maila Chiaravalle, Legnano (Mi) 1884 circa [= Ripostigli Monetali d'Italia, Schede Anagrafiche 1], Milano: Civiche Raccolte Numismatiche 1980.
Chiaravalle 1980c	Maila Chiaravalle, Borgovercelli/Novara 1889 [= Ripostigli Monetali d'Italia, Schede Anagrafiche 1], Milano: Civiche Raccolte Numismatiche 1980.
Chiaravalle 1980d	Maila Chiaravalle, Verdello (BG) [= Ripostigli Monetali d'Italia, Schede Anagrafiche 1], Milano: Civiche Raccolte Numismatiche 1980.
Chiesa 2000	F. Chiesa, "Le Monete della Prima Fase delle Emissioni Argentee con Legende Leponzie", in: Ermanno Arslan, Riccardo Carazzetti (eds), I Leponti e la moneta. Atti della Giornata di studio "I Leponti e la moneta" in occasione del X anniversario di fondazione del Circolo Numismatico Ticinese (1986–1996) Locarno, 16 novembre 1996 in onore di Franco Chiesa, Locarno: Circolo Numismatico Ticinese 2000, 23-32.
Crawford 1985	Michael Hewson Crawford, Coinage and money under the Roman Republic. Italy and the mediterranean economy, Berkeley, Los Angeles: Univ. od California Press 1985.
Deroc 1983	Antonin Deroc, Les monnaies gauloises d'argent de la vallée du Rhône, Paris: 1983.
Ercolani Cocchi 1996	Emanuela Ercolani Cocchi, "Le Dramme Padane nel Contesto dei Rinvenimenti Monetali dell'Emila Romagna", in: Nino Lamboglia (Ed.), Atti dell’Incontro di Studio su: La Monetazione Preromana dell’Italia Settentrionale: Approvvigionamento del Metallo, Coniazione, Circolazione. Bordighera, 16 - 17 settembre 1994, Omaggio a Nino Lamboglia, Bordighera: Museo Bicknell 1996, 249-260.
Fondazione Pautasso 1988	Centro Numismatico Valdostano, Fondazione Andrea Pautasso, Monete Preromane del Nord Italia, Celtiche della Gallia dell’Est Europeo, Aosta: Centro Numismatico Valdostano 1988.
Fondazione Pautasso 1998	Fondazione "Andrea Pautasso" per gli studi di numismatica (ed.), Forme di contatto tra moneta locale e moneta straniera nel mondo antico. Atti del Convegno internazionale, Aosta 13-14 ottobre 1995. A cura di Giovanni Gorini, Padova: Esedra Editrice 1998.
Forrer 1908	Robert Forrer, Keltische Numismatik der Rhein- und Donaulande, Strassburg: Trübner 1908.

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